Granite battles Manhattan to five-set loss

CHURCHHILL – Like two top teams should, they battled to the final point. Unfortunately for Granite, it was Manhattan Christian that came away with a 3-2 victory Thursday night. The win came in the Winner’s Bracket semifinal of the Class C Western Division Volleyball Tournament and sends the Lady Eagles into the Winner’s Bracket Final.

The Lady Prospectors fall into the Consolation Bracket and will play the winner of the Seeley Swan-Valley Christian match at 4:15 p.m. Friday.

After Manhattan Christian took the opening set, Granite got down to business to earn very close wins in sets two and three.

The charge was led by Montannah Piar who racked up kills and blocks on her way to a XXK and XXB night.

But the Eagles aren’t the defending Western Division champs for nothing. They rallied for a 25-21 win set four that forced the rubber match fifth.

And their momentum carried over. The Lady Eagles started off fast and the Lady Prospectors could never dig themselves out of the hole.

SCORING

Granite – 16/25/25/21/8 – 2

Manhattan Christian – 25/22/20/25/15 – 3

STATISTICS

KILLS – Smith 8, Spehar 10, Tallon 5, Piar 21, Lilyquist 10

BLOCKS – Piar 3, Lilyquist 4

ASSISTS – Benson 1, Tallon 40

DIGS – Smith 8, Benson 10, Flores 1, Spehar 7, Tallon 8, Piar 15, Lilyquist 11

ACES – Spehar 1, Tallon 1, Pair 2