Whitefish breezes by Polson

WHITEFISH — Whitefish coasted through the first two sets and fended off a third-set rally by Polson to sweep the Pirates 25-9, 25-9, 25-22 on Tuesday night.

“We were taking care of the ball, doing what we needed to do,” Whitefish head coach Addy Connelly said. “They stepped the third game up.”

Cailyn Ross anchored a strong attack for the Bulldogs with nine kills, and Annisa Brown and Marlee Bender added seven kills apiece.

Becca Catina notched 26 assists.

Polson’s Kaelyn Smith had nine kills.

Whitefish hosts Stevensville at 7 p.m. on Thursday in a make-up game. Polson is home against Ronan at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

“It puts us in a good position going into Thursday,” Connelly said of the victory. “Coming off a win, it’s always nice going into the next game.”

Whitefish def. Polson 25-9, 25-9, 25-22

Kills — Whitefish 33 (Cailyn Ross 9, Annisa Brown 7, Marlee Bender 7), Polson 18 (Kaelyn Smith 9). Blocks — Whitefish 5 (Ross, Bender 2), Polson N/A. Digs — Whitefish 43 (Serena Hemmingson, Kennedy Grove 11), Polson 28 (Kyler Lundeen 10). Assists — Whitefish 31 (Becca Catina 26), Polson 11 (Laurel Bitterman 6). Aces — Whitefish 6 (three with two), Polson 2 (Kaylanna DesJarlais 2).

Glacier 3,

Missoula Hellgate 2

MISSOULA — Glacier edged Missoula Hellgate 25-21, 25-27, 25-23, 20-25, 15-12 in a nail-biter of a Class AA match in which no set was decided by more than five points.

The Wolfpack took the first and third games, but the Knights nabbed the second set in a tiebreak.

After falling in the fourth set to force a deciding fifth, Glacier rebounded to win it 15-12.

Kali Gulick led Glacier at the net with 19 kills and 12 blocks. Ashley Montini tallied 51 assists for the Pack.

Glacier hosts Missoula Big Sky at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Glacier def. Missoula Hellgate 25-21, 25-27, 25-23, 20-25, 15-12

Glacier: Kills 56 (Kali Gulick 19). Blocks 20 (Gulick 12). Digs 33 (Kacey Hill 11). Assists 51 (Ashley Montini 51). Aces 5 (Montini 2).

Hellgate: Kills 48 (Kate Koenig 18). Blocks 9 (Kylie Lunday 6). Digs 80 (Liza Littig 19). Assists 47 (Sydney McDaniel 44). Aces 16 (Koenig 10).

Missoula Big Sky 3,

Flathead 1

MISSOULA — Missoula Big Sky toppled Flathead 25-14, 25-17, 18-25, 25-18 in a Class AA matchup on Tuesday night.

“Our passing really kind of held us back tonight,” Flathead head coach Nicole Fairclough said. “Big Sky’s a really tough, scrappy team and really out-hit us.”

Julia Burden had 14 kills for Flathead, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the Bravettes, who fell behind 2-0 before salvaging the third set.

Brooke Kearns and Sam Tiede tallied 13 and 11 kills for Big Sky, respectively.

Missoula Big Sky def. Flathead 25-14, 25-17, 18-25, 25-18

Flathead — Kills 27 (Julia Burden 14). Blocks 12 (Hannah O’Dell 6). Digs 40 (Kierstin Wade 9). Assists 23 (Bailey Nunn 21). Aces 7 (Wade 4).

Big Sky — Kills 45 (Brooke Kearns 13, Sam Tiede 11). Blocks 8 (Kearns 5). Digs 57 (Tiede 22). Assists 45 (Katie Rolle 43). Aces 9 (Grace Lowder 5).

Troy 3,

Stillwater Christian 1

TROY — Troy downed visiting Stillwater Christian 20-25, 27-25, 25-17, 25-22 in a nonconference matchup on Tuesday afternoon.

Aurora Becquart led the Trojans in kills (13), digs (17) and blocks (2).

Kaitlyn Downey accounted for seven of Troy’s 12 aces.

Helen Hashley tallied 13 kills and Ramey Metzger recorded 27 assists and three aces for Stillwater.

Troy def. Stillwater Christian 20-25, 27-25, 25-17, 25-22

Kills — Stillwater 31 (Helen Hashley 13), Troy 30 (Aurora Becquart 13). Blocks — Stillwater 6 (Abby Hudson 2), Troy 6 (Becquart, Allie Coldwell, Ella Pierce 2). Digs — Stillwater 77 (Cora Boll 31), Troy 58 (Becquart 17). Assists — Stillwater 31 (Ramey Metzger 27), Troy 24 (Annie Day 21). Aces — Stillwater 7 (Metzger 3), Troy 12 (Kaitlyn Downey 7).