STATE VOLLEYBALL: Priest River 2nd in 3A; Lewiston nabs 5A crown
Priest River brought home its first trophy Saturday after its best-ever finish at state in volleyball, finishing second to Fruitland at the state 3A tournament at Madison High in Rexburg.
After winning twice on Friday, Priest River lost 17-25, 25-21, 25-12, 25-22 to Fruitland in the semifinals. The Spartans came back to beat Shelley 18-25, 25-22, 25-20, 23-25, 15-10, then lost to Fruitland in the title match 25-18, 25-19, 25-17.
"It's amazing," said Priest River coach Kati Bodecker, who has guided the Spartans to state five times in her six seasons as coach. "I was proud of my girls. They put in a lot of work in the offseason. They really understood what it meant to be a team. They deserved it."
In the title match vs. Fruitland, outside hitters Melissa Trost and Jill Weimer had 10 kills each for Priest River. Taryn Eldore had 23 assists, Trost three aces. Middle blocker Kelsie Sink and right side hitter Beth Bykerk had three blocks each, and libero Karly Douglas had 13 digs.
In the third-place match vs. Shelley, Trost, Bykerk and Weimer had 15 kills each. Eldore had 39 assists and four aces, Sink, Bykerk and Katlyn Summers had five blocks each, and Douglas had 19 digs.
In the semifinal match, Trost had 15 kills, Eldore 26 assists and two aces, Sink four blocks, Douglas nine digs.
Priest River's best finish at state before Saturday was a tie for fifth. Prior to Bodecker's arrival, the Spartans had been to state just once, in 2003.
"I think we had a little more experience (this time)," Bodecker said. "We had four starters returning and they just wanted it. From the preseason on, that was their goal, to bring home a trophy."
* In the 5A tourney, Lewiston won its first state title in program history, going 4-0 and beating Madison of Rexburg 25-23, 25-27, 25-15, 17-25, 15-6 in the championship match at Bonneville High in Idaho Falls.
Lewiston (30-4), without a senior on its roster, won the 5A Inland Empire League and Region 1 titles, and was making its third trip to state in four seasons. Prior to that, the Bengals hadn't been to state since 1985.
At Bonneville High, Idaho Falls
Saturday
Madison d. Rocky Mountain (loser fourth)
Lewiston d. Vallivue 23-25, 25-19, 25-17, 16-25, 15-9 (semifinal)
Madison d. Valllivue 25-11, 22-25, 25-23, 26-24 (loser third)
Lewiston d. Madison 25-23, 25-27, 25-15, 17-25, 15-6 (championship)
At Skyline High, Idaho Falls
Saturday
Match 11 - Bonneville d. Twin Falls 25-14, 25-23, 25-21 (loser fourth)
Match 12 - Century d. Skyview 25-20, 15-25, 24-26, 25-21, 15-9 (semifinal)
Match 13 - Bonneville d. Skyview 25-22, 25-23, 25-20 (loser third)
Match 14 - Century d. Bonneville 26-28, 25-18, 25-17, 25-17 (championship)
At Madison High, Rexburg
Saturday
Shelley d. Snake River 25-16, 13-25, 25-16, 20-25, 15-10 (loser fourth)
Fruitland d. Priest River 19-25, 25-21, 25-12, 25-22 (semifinal)
Priest River d. Shelley 18-25, 25-22, 25-20, 23-25, 15-10 (loser third)
Fruitland d. Priest River 25-18, 25-19, 25-16 (championship)
At Hillcrest High, Idaho Falls
Saturday
Malad d. Ririe 25-18, 25-23, 13-25, 25-13 (loser fourth)
Nampa Christian d. Firth 25-22, 19-25, 25-22, 25-20 (semifinal)
Firth d. Malad 25-15, 20-25, 25-18, 18-25, 15-10 (loser third)
Nampa Christian d. Firth 25-23, 25-15, 25-19 (championship)
1A Division I
At Kimberly HIgh
Saturday
Challis d. Butte County 13-25, 25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 15-11 (semifinal)
Genesee d. Kamiah 25-21, 25-18, 21-25, 23-25, 15-11 (loser fourth)
Genesee d. Butte Co. 13-25, 25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 15-1 (loser third)
Challis d. Genesee 25-16, 25-20, 25-15 (championship)
1A Division II
At Twin Falls High
Late Friday
Mackay d. Horseshoe Bend 25-21, 25-17, 25-20
Tri-Valley d. Richfield 25-18, 25-20, 25-21 (loser-out)
Saturday
Match 11 - Mackay d. Tri-Valley 25-19, 24-26, 28-26, 25-17 (loser fourth)
Match 12 - Lighthouse Christian d. Deary 25-20, 25-21, 25-16 (semifinal)
Match 13 - Mackay d. Deary 25-16, 25-20, 25-18 (loser third)
Match 14 - Lighthouse Christian d. Mackay 25-20, 25-19, 25-6 (championship)