After making it to the Class AA state volleyball tournament last year, the Flathead Bravettes return most of their star power and appear poised for another run at the playoffs.
Across town, Glacier came up just short of the state tourney last season. But the Wolfpack returns six seniors, including five letter winners with starting experience, and a talented group of underclassmen.
Glacier Head Coach Christy Harkins said her team’s goal is to finish in the top half of the conference, which would give the Wolfpack a home playoff game for the chance to move on to state. Last year, the Wolfpack finished fifth and lost on the road to Missoula Sentinel.
The Wolfpack’s six seniors are setter Paige Latimer; defensive specialist Sierra Kenkel; outside hitter Rachel Cutler; defensive specialist Cami Mathison; middle hitter Kendra Bouley and outside hitter Baylee Quay. Mathison was named second-team Class AA all-state last year. Lexy Boschee, a junior, was named honorable-mention all-state.
The Wolfpack got off to a quick start this season, winning two matches over Great Falls High and C.M. Russell on Aug. 28.
“We had a good start, but we have a long ways to go,” Harkins said. “The girls have pretty high expectations for the season.”
The Bravettes also jumped out of the gates strong, claiming consecutive victories over Great Falls and C.M. Russell on Aug. 28. Flathead and Glacier faced off against the two Greats Falls teams in a quadrangular tournament to open the season.
Flathead lost defensive specialist Mary Allen to graduation last year. Allen was one of the top defensive specialists in the state, earning a first-team Class AA selection.
But the Bravettes kept many of their other top players, including senior middle hitter Danika Johnson, junior outside hitter Hannah Sackett and junior setter Alison Lunde.
Johnson, a 6-3 force at the net, was named honorable-mention Class AA all-state, as was Lunde. Sackett was named second-team all-state. Johnson is one of three seniors on the team, along with libero Sara Aylor and outside hitter McKenna Wynne.
In addition to Sackett and Johnson, the Bravettes have three other players 6 feet or taller on their roster: sophomore Kwyn Johnson, junior Kylie Schlegel and sophomore Cassie Krueger. Flathead is coached by Leon Wilcox.
Last year, the Bravettes advanced to the Class AA state tournament as the western conference’s fourth seed. The Bravettes lost to the east’s top seed Billings West in straight sets 25-18, 25-17, 25-12. West went on to beat Bozeman in the state title match.
The Bravettes bounced back in the second round and nearly knocked off Western No. 2 Missoula Hellgate, losing a closely contested match 23-25, 25-20, 25-20, 11-25, 15-10.
Flathead and Glacier play each other on Sept. 2 at Glacier High School and again on Oct. 30 at Flathead High School. Both teams participate in the Great Falls Invite on Sept. 10-11.