Maidens tame Wildkats in 5 for conference win
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RONAN — This is a different Maiden team.
The Ronan Maidens found a way to win the close games and defeat Columbia Falls in five sets Friday, for their first conference win in a very long time.
The Maidens’ 23-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13 win in Ronan Friday was their first conference win since defeating Whitefish in the divisional tournament in November of 2008 and their first regular season conference win since a five-set victory against Polson in October of 2007.
“The girls were almost unbelieving that they had pulled it off,” Ronan coach Naomi Mock said. “I’m just glad we got one early in the season, so it shows them what they are capable of. Hopefully, it gives them a little insight.”
It’s easy to see why the win could’ve taken a little time to sink in, in years past the ball always bounced for the team on the other side of the net in the close games, but not on Friday. Mock is hoping that the Maidens’ 15-13 game-five win will give her team some faith that they can win the close games.
“I’m hoping that they can see that the games that they would lose in the past, they can now fight and win,” Mock said.
In a match where only one set was decided by more than a 2-point margin, Mock said it took the whole Maiden squad to pull off the stunner over the Wildkats.
“Everybody did their jobs, people stepped up when they were needed and people did their job backing them up when they did. It was just a good overall team effort,” Mock said.
Alice Van Gunten led the Maiden attack, finishing with 13 kills and a dozen assists. Tailyr Irvine was on target Friday, knocking down 11 of her 16 kill attempts. Tuesday Salmon knocked down eight kills and led the Maidens with seven of their 20 aces. Taylor Lynch did a little of everything, finishing with two aces, six kills, a team-high three blocks and a team-high 13 assist.
The Maidens (1-1) started the season with a four-set loss to Stevensville in Ronan Thursday, losing 23-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13. Salmon finished with a team-high 12 kills and Irvine followed with 11. Van Gunten and Lynch each finished with 15 assists.
The Maidens will be at the Columbia Falls Tip-off Tournament Friday and Saturday.
Summary
Stevensville def. Ronan
25-16, 28-30, 25-18, 25-17
Ronan def. Columbia Falls
23-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13
Kills - Columbia Falls 35 (Jessie Gist 9), Ronan 41 (Alice Van Gunten 12). Blocks - Columbia Falls 4 (Gilley 2), Ronan 13 (Taylor Lynch 3). Digs - Columbia Falls 67 (Gabrielle Stenger 15), Ronan 24 (Marissa McCrea 15). Assists - Columbia Falls 23 (Hope Burlage 17), Ronan 27 (Lynch 13). Aces - Columbia Falls 20 (Burlage 5), Ronan 20 (Tuesday Salmon 7).
