Vikings deny Lake City tie for league title
COEUR d'ALENE - There's no need for a coin flip now.
The Coeur d'Alene Vikings made sure of that with a convincing 25-15, 25-16, 22-25, 25-18 victory over the visiting Lake City Timberwolves in the 5A Inland Empire League volleyball finale for both teams Tuesday night at Elmer Jordan Court.
Lake City (14-4, 4-2 5A IEL) could have forged a tie for the league title with Lewiston (21-4, 5-1), with a victory, and forced a coin flip for the No. 1 seed to the 5A Region 1 tournament. But Lewiston is league champs and the top seed, and will host Saturday's first round of Region 1 tourney play at Booth Hall.
Kayla McGlathery totaled 15 kills, six blocks, eight digs and two aces for Coeur d'Alene (17-10, 2-4), which got big contributions from several players in a spirited performance.
"I think we played great tonight," Coeur d'Alene coach Dee Pottenger said. "We've been talking to the girls about just everybody doing their job and their role, and when we're doing that, we're a very, very solid team and tonight, that's what we showed."
Lake City swept Coeur d'Alene at home a month ago, but the Vikings led late in all three games. In the rematch, Coeur d'Alene took control with a fierce net attack, weathered a lull late in the third game and early in the fourth, but recovered with some big plays late in the game to finish off the T-Wolves.
Sydney Williams had five blocks for Coeur d’Alene, and had a couple of key kills late in the fourth game. Megan Ramseyer had 20 assists, Ashley Hammons 12. Ramseyer and Miranda Miller had two aces each.
“We’re playing cleaner volleyball right now,” Pottenger said. “We’re limiting our unforced errors. The girls feel like they’re improving, so they feel like they’re a better team.”
Lake City, usually crisp on offense, struggled on the attack with a variety of hitting errors until coming to life in the middle of the third game.
Kylie Curtis had 14 kills, 11 digs and three aces for Lake City. Brittany Gay added six kills, 15 assists and eight digs, and Kaity Widmyer had 15 assists.
Afterward, Lake City coach Bret Taylor was almost at a loss to explain what happened to his team.
“I know that Coeur d’Alene was pretty prepared, and I don’t think we played prepared,” he said. “Like I’ve always said, those losses are mine, and the wins are theirs. So we will get better tomorrow.
“They executed their offense, and blocked right off the bat,” Taylor said of the Vikings. “They put a lot of pressure on us. Kayla had a wonderful night blocking and hitting; we couldn’t stop her in the beginning. That wasn’t our best effort. We’ll take what we deserve, and we’ll make the best of it, and we’ll play hard (Saturday).”
On Thursday, Lake City hosts Moscow and Coeur d’Alene is home vs. Sandpoint to wrap up the regular season.
On Saturday, No. 3 seed Coeur d’Alene and No. 2 Lake City will square off again in the first round of the Region 1 tournament at Lewiston at noon. No. 4 Post Falls (13-20, 1-5) will play No. 1 Lewiston at 2 p.m.
The winner of the regional title match next Tuesday advances to state Oct. 26-27 at Bonneville High in Idaho Falls. The regional runner-up has to win a play-in match to advance to state.
“Our league is tough,” Pottenger said. “We have four very good, very solid teams in our league and really, any one of the four teams can win it.”
Taylor agreed.
“That’s why we need to make sure we’re well-prepared, and make sure that we’re ready to play.”