Troy loses to talented conference rival
<p>The Lady Trojans may have fallen to Thompson Falls Thursday but there was a happy moment or two. This one came in the first game when Troy went up 24-23. Holli Higgins hugging Kellie Lundin...Alanah True-Silva left, and Jordan Williams right.</p>
<p>Alanah True-Silva serves up an ace in second game vs Thompson Falls 10-18-12</p>
Senior night was spoiled by an excellent Thompson Falls volleyball team, which swept Troy 3-0; 26-24, 25-20, 25-23.
The Lady Bluehawks, tied for first in conference with Eureka, never ran away with the match, but Troy shot itself in the foot with poor setting and passing.
“We struggled early,” said head coach Sandra Beal. “We came out slow. I think the girls are still dwelling on that Eureka loss.”
Eureka beat Troy in five sets the week before.
The first game looked bad early. The Bluehawks began to increase their lead, but Troy was able to dig well and keep volleys alive to tie it at 24 before Thompson Falls pulled it out.
Senior middle blockers Hope Reid and Kelsey Fitchett were forces for Thompson Falls, putting hands up at the net and making it difficult for Troy to get effective kills.
Troy came out racing in the second game, but then the passing faltered. The Lady Bluehawks tied it at 13, and then went on an 8-2 run, prompting a timeout.
The third game was a point-for-point affair, and Thompson Falls just outlasted.
“Our hitters didn’t show up,” Beal said. “We have to be able to communicate.”
Troy swept a lackluster Bigfork team on Saturday, 25-18, 25-14, 25-16.
Beal said her team would do some team-building exercises to shake off the last two losses before the district tournament this Saturday.
Jordan Williams led the team against Thompson Falls in both kills and digs with 10 and 15. Holli Higgins had 28 of 29 set assists and Michaela Curry, Katie Lundin and Taylor Brown each notched a block.