Trotters bounce volleyball rival Hawks
Plains' Teagan Saner returns a shot over the outstretched arms of Gabi Hannum (9) during their match this past Thursday night in Plains. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)
The Trotters needed the win. For themselves and their fans.
But also, to prove to everyone, including themselves, they are for real this season.
No need to wonder following their impressive show of volleyball skills from both teams in the Trotters thrilling 3-2 volleyball win over Sanders County rival Thompson Falls this past Thursday in Plains.
The near standing room only crowd at the Plains High gym was treated to volleyball at its finest, beginning with an unbelievable first set.
Plains got out to a 5-1 lead in the opening set before the Lady Hawks rallied and tied the score at five-each. The set would eventually see 12 tie scores and as many lead changes, with the last tie score being 28-28.
Plains won the next two points, the 30th point coming on a kill shot, to eke out a 30-28 first set win and a 1-0 match lead.
The second set mirrored the first set, with numerous lead changes and ties, including a 25-25 tie. This time T Falls would take a one-point lead, then clinched the set with a blocked shot that gave them a match tying 27-25 win.
Entering the pivotal third set, Plains got off to a 9-1 lead and never looked back, a reprieve, and perhaps chance for the near-capacity, loud crowd to catch its breath. T Falls staged two brief rallied but eventually fell 25-17 to the Trotters, giving Plains a 2-1 match advantage.
Que the fourth set.
As had been the case most of the evening in the electric atmosphere, Plains blasted out to an 8-1 fourth set lead, only to watch the Lady Hawks come back and tie the score at 15-15.
The score bounced back and forth before being knotted at 25. T Falls scored a point to take a 26-25 lead, then scored the decisive point, giving them a 27-25 fourth set win and knotting the match at 2-2.
That set the stage for an almost inevitable fifth set.
Oddly, the JV match prior to the varsity battle also went to the fifth set, with Plains JV pulling out a 15-12 set five win.
The fifth set of the varsity match was tied five times, the last one at 12-all. Then the Trotters scored two points to take a 14-12 lead. In the fifth sets, the first team to reach 15 points and be ahead by two points is the winner.
A Plains serve that skimmed the top of the net and dropped on the T Falls side was the 15th point the Trotters needed to win the set and the match, 3-2.
This was a match both sides could have won, but in the end Plains had just enough to pull it out. Both sides were diving for digs and making spectacular plays throughout the game.
T Falls had some standout performances, including 20 assists by Annalise Fairbank, and a team-best 17 kill shots from Sarah Koskela. Junior Gabi Hannum had nine blocks for the Lady Hawks and led the team with four service aces.
The were some impressive totals on the Trotters side also, topped by the 39 assists produced by sophomore Claire Lakko, who also had 12 kills.
Kalie Tuma topped Plains with 32 digs, and had four aces, same as Teagan Saner. Saner also led Plains with a match best 19 kills. Aubree Butcher added 12 kills for the Trotters, along with a team high five blocks.
Plains next match is tonight (Sept 24) in St. Regis. They return home this Thursday (Sept 26) to take on Arlee beginning at 5:30p.
T Falls, which beat Anaconda 3-1 this past Saturday, travels to Arlee this Thursday, then returns home Saturday afternoon (Sept 28) to take on Darby.