9/18/24
Montesano 3, Black Hills 0 (25-8, 25-16, 25-15)
(Tumwater, WA) The Black Hills Wolves were coming off their first win of the season on Monday night after defeating Rochester at home 3-0 and were looking for more of the same on Tuesday. The Montesano Bulldogs were coming into the match after a 3-1 win last Wednesday over Aberdeen.
The first set was a great start for Black Hills as they won the first three points with a block from Ellie Johnson and Oralia Mike getting an ace. Montesano rallied back to tie things at four as the two sides went back and forth early. The Bulldogs used a 10-0 run to build an 18-6 lead as Grace Gooding had a pair of aces in the middle of the run. Kaila Hatton and Olivia Robinson each had a kill late in the first set to help Montesano grab the first set 25-8.
In the second set, Montesano jumped out to an 11-4 lead, with Kaila Hatton, Grace Gooding, and Kylee Wisdom all having key contributions to the great start for the Bulldogs. Black Hills fought back very nicely with a 9-2 run of their own to tie the second set a 13 apiece, with Anneliese Dale getting an ace, Emma Thompson, Oralia Mike, and Tyler Venable all earning points for the Wolves. Kylee Wisdom had a pair of late aces for Montesano, and Kaila Hatton had back-to-back kills to help the Bulldogs win a very competitive second set, 25-16.
In the third set, it was very evenly matched. There were ties at one, three, four, five, six, eight and 13. Black Hills took an early 3-1 lead as Oralia Mike had another ace for the Wolves, but Montesano rallied off three straight points, highlighted by a Kylee Wisdom kill to make it 4-3 Montesano. Taylor Galvin came in for Montesano and earned a couple of points, as did Makena Blancas, who had an ace during the back-and-forth action. After it was tied at 13, Montesano went on a 5-0 run to go up 18-13, where Taylor Galvin had two kills and Kaila Hatton had a kill to help the Bulldogs add to their lead. Black Hills made it 19-15, but Montesano could pull away, with Karissa Otterstetter earning a pair of kills to get the set and match victory, with the Bulldogs taking the final set 25-15.
Our Thorbeckes Game MVP went to Montesano’s Kaila Hatton, who was phenomenal for the Bulldogs. She had great plays at the net with some key blocks, a few aces, and some mighty powerful kills to help Montesano get the sweep.
Montesano improves to 3-1 on the season and will take on Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) on Saturday at home as Black Hills drops to 1-3 on the year.
For full match replay on the NFHS Network, click here (Subscription Required).
ESN Post-Match Show
Excellent Rally
Kaila Hatton Block
Another Great Rally
Karissa Otterstetter Kill
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