Libby volleyball earns weekend split

The Lady Loggers came out with guns blazing in both of their weekend matches but were only able to come away with a split against Polson and Frenchtown.

On Friday, the Lady Loggers jumped out to a 14-2 lead in the first game and ended up winning 25-12, 25-23 and 25-22. The next afternoon Libby opened up 18-6 but lost in five sets 25-12, 21-25, 25-27, 25-14, 10-15.

Strong serving fueled the fast starts again. The Lady Loggers had eight of their 11 aces (six by Hailey Craig) in the first game against Polson. The Lady Loggers’ hitters kept the pressure on the Pirates, but they had to withstand a late rally in the second set to win 25-23 and come back from being down 16-19 to win the third.      

Devon Gallagher showed she is getting more comfortable as an outside hitter with her nine kills. The Lady Loggers defense was led by Cierra Stewart with five blocks and Mahalah Wedel who anchored the back row with 21 digs.

“It was great to get the win in three,” said Libby Coach Cindy Ostrem-Johnston.  “We were down seven points in set three and had a late run behind Dayln Germany’s serving. She was 16-for-16 for the match.”

Libby tallied four of their 15 aces against Frenchtown in the initial set, but from that point on the Lady Loggers fell victim to a barrage of kills from the Broncs 6-foot-1-inch middle hitter Faith Bauer. In the key third set Libby fought back from a deficit to tie the set at 24 but was unable to put it away. They came back to win the next set handily and it looked like the momentum had swung in their favor but they lost an error filled fifth set, 10-15.  

“We came out strong, but then lost control of the tempo,” Ostrem-Johnston said. “We need to play the whole match at a high level.”

Hannah England had 38 assists and Staci Regh had 10 kills for the Loggers. Germany had seven aces.

The Lady Loggers enter Homecoming week with a 4-2 record (2-2 conference).  They host the Eureka Lions on Tuesday.  

Libby vs Polson

Kills – Libby 34 (Devon Gallagher 9), Polson 26 (Nichole Lake 7); blocks – Libby 5 (Cierra Stewart 5), Polson 2 Lauren Lefthand 10; Assists – Libby 31 (Hannah England 27), Polson 20 (Jaiden Toth 20); Digs – Libby 50 (Mahalah Wedel 21), Polson 67 (Libby Clay 24); Aces – Libby 11 (Hailey Craig 6), Polson 0

Libby vs Frenchtown

Kills Libby 51 (Staci Regh 10), Frenchtown 50 (Faith Bauer 22); Blocks – Libby 4 (Cierra Stewart 2), Frenchtown 4 (Bauer 2); Digs – Libby 71 (Mahalah Wedel 26), Frenchtown 58 (Jaylyn Bundy 16); Assists – Libby 45 (Hannah England 38), Frenchtown 41 (Haley Cyr 36);  Aces – Libby 15 (Dayln Germany 7), Frenchtown 6 (Haley Cyr 5)