Lady Hawks clash with Western B power Bigfork

With Western B volleyball playoff action looming, Thompson Falls’ girls were trying to do what no one else had done this year so far.

They were trying to derail the runaway train that is the Bigfork Lady Valkyries.

Not even home court advantage could slow the Western B leaders as they came in and took a 3-1 match from the Lady Hawks Saturday afternoon in T-Falls.

But unlike other matches against the unbeaten Valkyries, this one was close from beginning to end and the home-standing Hawks managed to push Bigfork to four sets.

This match, in the end, went to the visitors, but it could have gone either way.

Thompson Falls’ talented front line players, paced by seniors Avery Burgess and Ellie Baxter, helped keep this match close from the beginning.

The two teams traded volleys and kills throughout the first set of the match, with neither team able to pull away for an easy set win in their first of two conference meetings this year.

Bigfork managed to hold on to a two-point lead in the very late going to capture the first set and take a 1-0 match lead.

The second set also proved to be an evenly matched event, with the Valkyries winning the set and taking a solid 2-0 match lead by putting Thompson Falls away late, 25-19.

The pivotal next set then saw Burgess and Baxter exert their influence in what was a 25-23, match-saving win for the Lady Hawks.

However, the 8-0 Valkyries managed to rally for a 25-22 set four victory to complete the 3-1 match win.

In addition to keeping their season record unblemished, the Valkyries boosted their Western B conference record to 5-0.

The loss dropped T Falls to 6-3 on the year and 3-1 in league play.

Burgess finished the Bigfork game with 15 kills, while Baxter handed out 21 assists. The Lady Hawks also got 11 digs from Cheyla Irvine in their effort against the Valkyries.

Earlier in the week, T Falls traveled to Troy for a conference match with the Lady Trojans, who had just won their first game of the year, a 3-1 win over Plains.

The match with Troy proved to be a breeze compared to the gale force storm they ran into versus Bigfork.

With Burgess once again controlling the front line, the Lady Hawks jumped out to a big early lead in set number one, then coasted to a 25-10 win and a 1-0 match lead. Troy was unable to overcome the taller and deeper Hawks the rest of the way.

Thompson Falls took the second set 25-12, then won set three to preserve the 3-0 sweep.

Burgess had a solid game against the Lady Trojans, recording six service aces and nine kills.

The win over Troy upped Thompson Falls to 6-2 overall and 3-0 in league play for the 2022 volleyball season. The Hawks return to action this Thursday evening when they take to the road for a match against Sanders County rival Plains, in Plains.

They then return home to face Eureka Saturday night.