Flathead spikers 1st in pool play; Libby 3rd, Glacier 4th
MISSOULA — Flathead and second-ranked Missoula Sentinel posted 12-2 marks to top their respective pools during Thursday’s action at the Missoula Invitational volleyball tournament.
Sentinel leads the Sentinel pool with Corvallis, 10-4, second; Florence, 10-4, third; and third-ranked Glacier, 8-6, fourth.
Flathead tops the Hellgate pool. Helena Capital, 11-3, is second; Libby, 10-4, is third; and Missoula Big Sky, 7-7, fourth.
Flathead and Glacier will open championship bracket action this morning at 9 a.m.
Missoula Invitational
Sentinel Pool
At Sentinel High School
1, Missoula Sentinel 12-2; 2, Corvallis 10-4; 3, Florence 10-4; 4, Glacier 8-6, 5, Helena 7-7; 6, Whitefish 7-7; 7, Great Falls 2-12; 8, Frenchtown 0-14.
Hellgate Pool
At Hellgate High School
1, Flathead 12-2; 2, Helena Capital 11-3; 3, Libby 10-4; 4, Missoula Big Sky 7-7; 5, Missoula Hellgate 6-8; 6, Great Falls CMR 6-8; 7, Columbia Falls 3-11; 8, Polson 2-12.
Top 4 teams advance to Championship bracket
Championship bracket first-round pairings
Today
At Sentinel High School
9 a.m. — No. 4 Glacier vs. No. 1 Flathead
9 a.m. — No. 3 Libby vs. No. 2 Corvallis
10 a.m. — No. 4 Missoula Big Sky vs. No. 1 Missoula Sentinel
10 a.m. — No. 3 Florence vs. No. 2 Helena Capital
Consolation bracket first-round pairings
At Hellgate High School
9 a.m. — No. 8 Frenchtown vs. No. 5 Hellgate
9 a.m. — No. 7 Columbia Falls vs. No. 6 Whitefish
10 a.m. — No. 8 Polson vs. No. 5 Helena
10 a.m. — No. 7 Great Falls vs. No. 6 Great Falls CMR
Stillwater 3,
Thompson Falls 1
Stillwater Christian captured a nonconference victory by downing Thompson Falls 25-23, 18-25, 25-14, 25-19 at Stillwater Christian School.
Cora Boll led Stillwater in digs with 28 and aces with nine.
Selah Newman had nine kills and Helen Hashley seven for Stillwater.
“This was a good match for us as we head into state next week,” Stillwater coach Diane Smith said.
“The girls continue to work at cutting down on errors and bettering the ball.”
Stillwater hosts Troy on Saturday.
Stillwater Christian def. Thompson Falls 25-23, 18-25, 25-14, 25-19
Kills — Thompson Falls 29 (Brooke Bowlin 8, Jody Detlaff 8), Stillwater 24 (Selah Newman 9, Helen Hashley 7); Blocks — Thompson Falls 7 (Detlaff 3), Stillwater 4 (Abby Hudson 3); Assists — Thompson Falls 22 (Riley Wilson 17), Stillwater 22 (Ramey Metzger 21); Digs — Thompson Falls 42 (Maya Stiles 11), Stillwater 69 (Cora Boll 28); Aces — Thompson Falls 9 (Lexy Van Elswyk 4), Stillwater 24 (Boll 9).