Sentinel swarms Flathead in Western AA volleyball

MISSOULA — Flathead dropped its second straight match in three sets, falling to second-ranked Missoula Sentinel 25-16, 25-15, 25-19 on Saturday afternoon in Western AA volleyball action.

Madde Boles paced Flathead with 13 kills and four blocks at the net.

Sentinel recorded 46 kills to Flathead’s 23 and tallied nine aces to the Bravettes’ four.

It was the final regular-season match for both teams.

The Spartans earned an automatic bid into the state tournament, while Flathead will need to make a run through this week’s Class AA divisionals to qualify.

Though the bracket is not officially set, the Bravettes are likely to travel to Missoula Hellgate for a play-in game Tuesday. The winner of that match would advance to face the No. 3 seed in the Western conference with a trip to state on the line.

Sentinel def. Flathead 25-16, 25-15, 25-19

Kills — Sentinel 46 (Elsa Godwin 12), Flathead 23 (Madde Boles 13). Blocks — Sentinel 1 (Jordyn Schweyen, Kylie Frohlich), Flathead 8 (Taylor Henley 4, Boles 4). Assists — Sentinel 45 (Schweyen 42), Flathead 23 (Bailey Nunn 20). Digs — Sentinel 43 (Serena Moreno 11), Flathead 24 (Julia Burden 6, Sierra Wilhelm 6). Aces — Sentinel 9 (Gowin 3, Schweyen 3), Flathead 4 (four with one).