And what a time to do it.
Big Sky upended Helena High, the top team in Western AA volleyball, with a 3-2 victory in its final match of the regular season.
“We finally played like we should have been playing all season,” Big Sky coach Audrey Tomsich said. “Everybody did what they needed to do. It's just a huge sigh of relief ... finally, we put it all together.”
The Eagles improved to 6-6 in the Western AA, 9-10 overall. Helena, which dropped just its second league match of the season, fell to 10-2, 15-5.
Joslyn Tinkle, who missed Big Sky's previous loss to Kalispell Glacier because of a basketball recruiting trip, returned in fine form with 14 kills and 11 digs.
Katie Showers and Amy McLaughlin notched five aces apiece for the Eagles.
Big Sky def. Helena, 26-24, 19-25, 15-25, 25-21, 15-12.
Kills - Helena 42 (Kelsey Williams 15), Big Sky 46 (Joslyn Tinkle 14, Lindsey Hall 14). Blocks - Helena 10 (Lindsey Allen 6), Big Sky 5 (Katie Showers 2). Digs - Helena 56 (Monica Grimfrud 12), Big Sky 34 (Tinkle 11). Assists - Helena 37 (Kindal Williams 24), Big Sky 40 (Sarah Lidstrom 39). Aces - Helena 8 (Kindal Williams 3), Big Sky 13 (Showers 5, Amy McLaughlin 5).
Elsewhere:
Class AA
Missoula Sentinel def.Helena Capital, 3-0
Missoula Sentinel wrapped up second place in the Western AA with a 25-19, 25-12, 25-11 win over Helena Capital at the Spartans' gym.
Capital will return to Missoula to face the Spartans(10-2, 17-5) in the Western AA playoffs on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Jen Keddy paced Sentinel with 24 kills and 10 digs. Morgan McCarthy added four aces and two blocks for Sentinel. Sarah Stocker dished out 28 assists.
Sentinel def. Capital, 25-19, 25-12, 25-11.
Kills - Capital 20, Sentinel 37 (Jen Keddy 24). Blocks - Capital 2, Sentinel 7 (Morgan McCarthy 2, Caitlin Dahl 2). Digs - Capital 29, Sentinel 43 (Keddy 10). Assists - Capital 19, Sentinel 30 (Sarah Stocker 28). Aces - Capital 8, Sentinel 8 (McCarthy 4).
Class A
Bigfork def. Hamilton, 3-0
At Bigfork, the Northwestern A Vals downed Southwestern A Hamilton 25-14, 25-23, 25-19 in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Roxy Thurman rolled up 10 kills and a block for Bigfork. Mallory Knoll added 13 digs for the Vals, while Rachael Luckow set 10 assists and Claire Wilken floored four aces.
Ashley Albert led the Broncs with seven kills, three blocks and 12 digs.
Bigfork def. Hamilton 25-14, 25-23, 25-19
Kills - Hamilton 16 (Ashley Albert 7), Bigfork 32 (Roxy Thurman 10). Blocks - Hamilton 6 (Albert 3), Bigfork 1 (Thurman). Digs - Hamilton 36 (Albert 12), Bigfork 51 (Mallory Knoll 13). Assists - Hamilton 16 (Mary Conwell 8), Bigfork 18 (Rachael Luckow 10). Aces - Hamilton 4 (Conwell 2), Bigfork 7 (Claire Wilken 4).
Libby def. Ronan, 3-0
At Libby, Jackie Mee helped the Loggers finish the regular season in style with a 26-24, 25-12, 25-22 Northwestern A victory.
Mee totaled team highs with nine kills, a block, 15 digs and seven aces. Evi Cernick and Jordan Refsland handed out 12 assists apiece for Libby, which closed the regular season 9-1, 9-3. Genesea Meha gave the Loggers seven kills and 14 digs.
The Maidens were led by Carli Starkel, who had 12 kills and 12 digs.
Libby def. Ronan 26-24, 25-12, 25-22
Kills - Ronan 16 (Carli Starkel 12), Libby 34 (Jackie Mee 9). Blocks - Ronan 5 (Kelsey Swalling 3), Libby 2 (Mee, Katie Emery). Digs - Ronan 40 (Starkel 12, Kaylee Larson 12), Libby 52 (Mee 15). Assists - Ronan 14 (Swalling 13), Libby 29 (Evi Cernick 12, Jordan Refsland 12). Aces - Ronan 6 (April Soukup 3), Libby 19 (Mee 7).
Dillon def. Stevensville, 3-0
At Stevensville, Grace Zitzer slammed 14 kills and served five aces to carry Dillon to a 25-21, 25-20, 25-18 Southwestern A win over Stevensville in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Maddie Jones scooped up six digs to pace Stevensville.
Dillon def. Stevensville 25-21, 25-20, 25-18
Kills - Dillon 34 (Grace Zitzer 14), Stevensville 16 (Milli Thorson 4). Blocks - Dillon 4 (Jacy Suenram 2), Stevensville 0. Digs - Dillon 43 (Erin Rose 16), Stevensville 23 (Maddie Jones 6). Assists - Dillon 31 (Kelsi Nordahl 18), Stevensville 12 (Sionelle Bellee 8). Aces - Dillon 13 (Zitzer 5), Stevensville 6 (Christina Boberg 2).
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