5 Set Crosstown Battle

The Big Sky Eagle volleyball team made their way across Missoula Tuesday night to play the Hellgate Knights that played out in a full five sets in order for the Eagles to bring home the win.

The Eagles soared in to the upper gym at Hellgate high school sitting in the upper ranks of Class AA volleyball in the western side of the state, and the Knights a team on the rise. Things looked to be a battle out of the gate as Hellgate pushed the first set out to 25-22 in favor of Big Sky.

In the second set Hellgate jump out to an early lead and Big Sky would find themselves in the whole needing to catch up. By the time the Knights had reached 10 points the Eagles found their rhythm and pulled even, but the Knights kept it close and Big Sky put a check in the win column 25-21 for the second set in a row.

Hellgate and Big Sky switched sides with the Eagles looking to flush out a sweep over their crosstown rival. Once again the Knights roared out to an early lead and Big Sky fought back to keep even with the Knights. The set would come down to the wire with Hellgate finding themselves in the win column for the first time on the night with a 25-20 win.

Down two games to one Hellgate played with an increased tenacity and held back the Eagles once again. The two teams fought for each point they could get with both teams going on runs, but the Knights would not be denied when the Eagles caught up in the closing moments. Hellgate pulled even in the end beating the Eagles 25-22 to split the set at two games apiece.

The final set had Big Sky’s name all over it as the Eagles went on an early run and jumped out to a lead. The Knights would not be able to catch Big Sky and the Eagles would get a 15-9 win to take the match.