Granite sweeps Drummond as postseason nears

PHILIPSBURG – District 13C’s top two teams faced off for the fourth time this season, with Granite earning a three-set sweep of Drummond in Philipsburg.

The match does not affect the district standings, as the two teams that qualifying match earlier this year in Drummond. But the meeting does serve as an opportunity for both clubs to squeeze in one more quality opponent before the postseason begins next week.

The Lady Trojans played along side the Lady Trojans in each of the three sets, keeping the score close until late. But each time Granite pulled away to take control and secure the win.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said Granite’s senior setter Ella Tallon. “We brought it to them and showed them who’s boss.

One tactic that Granite deployed in the victory was a two-hit attack, where when Tallon is the initial receiver of a ball coming over the net, she immediately sets it for a kill attempt and hoping to catch the opposition off guard, quickening the pace and forgoing the third hit. Tuesday night, the strategy worked to perfection.

In looking ahead to the district tournament that starts next Wednesday, Tallon spoke to how her team needs to get ready for it.

“We just need to stay focused in practice,” explained Tallon. “We get two-hours a day and we need to make sure we use all two-hours effectively. We’ve got to get our strongest hitters hit at us so we can get use to getting those ball up. … We’re the best team there so if we’re getting those things up, we’re playing the best.”

For Drummond, who has been playing good volleyball against the rest of the district, unlocking the key to beating Granite is still something the Lady Trojans are looking for.

“That cohesion (Granite’s seniors) is tough to play against,” observed DHS Head Coach Sam Larson. “It’s difficult to try and catch up to that. It’s not like you can magically insert four years of experience into everybody’s head. There’s nothing I can really do in practice to get us to that point. What we have to do is execute the things we can control and bet better at them.”

On a team laden with seniors, it was Granite junior Addi Lilyquist that lead all attackers in the match with nine kills and four blocks. Teammates Addison Spehar, Montannah Piar and Ramsey Smith added six apiece. Tallon led the Lady Prospectors with 26 assists and two aces.

Drummond junior Kimber Parsons led with seven kills and three blocks, while Anna Kate Sawfer dished 17 assists, while Brooke Hicks led in aces (3) and digs (18).

Granite heads out on the road for another non-district match up Thursday at West Yellowstone before returning home Saturday to face off with Alberton in their season finale for Senior Night.

Drummond will host St. Regis Thursday for their Senior Night to close out district play. They then play at Cascade Saturday in a tune up for the postseason.

Junior Varsity

Drummond def. Granite, 3-1

11-25, 25-12, 16-14, 16-14

Granite started fast, but Drummond swept the final three sets to claim the match.

Eva Comings had eight kills and four aces to lead the Lady Prospectors, while Ella Dauenhauer dished 13 assists.

Casey James had eight kills, Kameron Wetsch eight aces, and Sawyer Hessler handed out seven assists for the Lady Trojans.

SCORING

Drummond – 18/18/22 – 0

Granite – 25/25/25 – 3

STATISTICS

KILLS – (D) Hicks 1, Parsons 7, RCline 6, HSawfer 2, Perry 2 (G) Smith 6, Benson 4, Spehar 6, Tallon 4, Piar 6, Lilyquist 9

BLOCKS – (D) ASawfer 1, Parsons 3 (G) Smith 1, Lilyquist 4

ASSISTS – (D) Hicks 1, ASawfer 17 (G) Benson 2, Tallon 26, Piar 2,

DIGS – (D) Hicks 18, Yates 6, ASawfer 5, Parsons 10, RCline 4, CCline 5, KWetsch 1, HSawfer 8, Langton 2 (G) Smith 10, Benson 9, Spehar 4, Tallon 12, Piar 7, Lilyquist 9

ACES – (D) Hicks 3, Parsons 1, CCline 1, Langton 1 (G) Smith 1, Benson 1, Tallon 1, Lilyquist 2