Drummond claims first VB battle of 2020 with Granite

PHILIPSBURG – Lady Trojan Senior Hannah Bradshaw had been waiting a while for this one. A long, long while.

“It was very, very big!” said an excited Bradshaw after her team’s 3-2 victory over Granite. “Since my freshman year we haven’t able to beat them so it felt really good.”

Drummond rallied twice to capture a win in Philipsburg over the Lady Prospectors Tuesday night, 20-25, 27-25, 21-25, 25-20, 16-14. The win elevates the Lady Trojans to 2-0 on the year with Granite falling to 1-1.

Unlike their victory over Deer Lodge the weekend before, Drummond had issues passing the ball from the get go. It cost them the opening game before they could get things back on track and rally to claim game two. The passing faltered again in game three, but th4e Lady Trojans rallied to overcome their miscues and claim the final two games in dramatic fashion.

“It wasn’t the same passing game we had on Saturday (vs. Deer Lodge),” said DHS Head Coach Brooks Phillips. “Once they started to pass they’d get themselves back in it. We just gotta work on seeing the other side of the net and talking about where their blockers are more.

“That was pretty big. It wasn’t our best game, but I’m so proud of them. They’d get down and they’re not quitting on themselves. It just feels really good that people see that and they stay up.”

For Granite, the early-season game is an opportunity to learn. When asked if she thought this was a match that got away from them, GHS Head Coach Jennifer Graham said she’s been taking a different tact with her girls this season.

“You never feel like one got away. You look at what are the learning outcomes of this match. One thing I’m really trying to impress on the girls this year is to have a growth mindset. What can we learn from that game and let’s not make excuses. We’re learning from it and what can we do better?

“At the end of the day, volleyball is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. I’ve seen teams that looked like they were collegiate level and get beaten badly. What other sport do you have where you can be down 12 and come back and win it.”

And Graham observed what many attendance felt after the match was over.

“It doesn’t hurt that we have two of the best teams in our district right here in Granite County.”

Granite’s Amelia Hill celebrated her senior night with a game-high 14 kills in the loss and added half of her team’s blocks with four. Anna Belle Locke registered five service aces and Rachel Ward had 18 assists.

Drummond spread their attack across three players, with sophomore Holly Hauptman leading the way with nine, followed by seniors Sydney Phillips and Bradshaw with eight apiece. Jessie Struna dished out all 23 of her team’s assists and had five service aces, while Gracie Weaver and Deana Parke each chipped in six digs. Bradshaw was also tops in service aces with six.

The two teams will not hit the road headed in opposite directions. The Lady Prospectors will head to Lincoln Thursday while the Lady Trojans go to Darby.