Lady Trojans lose battle with Twin Bridges, fall into Consolation Bracket

MANHATTAN – Drummond started fast but found the going tough as they fell to the Lady Falcons of Twin Bridges 3-1 Thursday night. The match took place at Manhattan Christian School in the semifinals of the Winner’s Bracket of the MHSA Western Division Class C Volleyball Tournament.

“I don’t think anything went terribly wrong,” said a reflective Paige Fickler, DHS Head Coach. “I just think it’s a reflection of the amount of times we’ve been pushed this season. We played well, for the most part. But when you’re not expecting a ball to come back over and you’re in chaos and on top of each other … But they played well in the chaos considering we’ve only been pushed to five sets once all season.”

In fact, the Lady Trojans played two five-set matches in 2022, one against Class B Powell County and another against county rival Granite. Drummond won both of them 3-2.

Twin Bridges jumped out fast in the opening set, taking a 15-8 lead. But the Lady Trojans battled back to know the score at 22-22. They stayed that way to 25-25 before the Lady Trojans collected two straight and claimed the first set 27-25.

But unlike previous opponents this season, the Lasdy Falcons were not about to roll over and play dead. Their ability to keep balls alive and generate additional swings at the net were something that Drummond was unaccustomed to.

“I think if we get the chance to play them again it will be a little different,” added Fickler.

The Lady Trojans just might get that chance. Their next match is Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. against the winner of Seeley Swan vs. Charlo. The Lady Blackhawks were beaten in their first match by Manhattan Christian while the Lady Vikings were bumped into the Consolation Bracket when they lost to Ennis.

Should Drummond advance to Saturday’s play, they would play a yet-to-be-determined foe at 11 a.m. A victory there would pit them against the loser of the Manhattan Christian vs. Twin Bridges game.

Thursday night’s loss resembles the loss that the Lady Trojans suffered in their District 13C tournament in 2021, forcing them to win three straight matches to claim the event’s crown. If they were to repeat that same feat at the Divisional, they would have to win four straight Saturday preceded by the single Friday match.

SCORING

Twin Bridges – 25/25/25/25 – 3

Drummond – 27/21/21/23 – 1

DRUMMOND STATISTICS

Kills – Nelson 2, Hauptman 12, Struna 4, Perry 5, Wagner 9, Parsons 6

Blocks – Nelson 2, Hauptman 1, Perry 6

Assists – Nelson 1, Struna 27, Wagner 1, Parke 1, Parsons 1

Digs – Rasor 7, Nelson 3, Hauptman 10, Struna 9, Perry 5, Wagner 4, Parke 15, Hicks 3, Parsons 3

Aces – Nelson 3, Hauptman 3, Perry 1