State volleyball glance

Tournaments start Friday

at Post Falls High

Defending champion: Lewiston (31-1).

Notes: Emilee Schlader, who was named to the first-team all-state team last year....The defending champion Bengals did not graduate a single player off last year's roster....Lewiston has advanced to state four of the last five years, but previously hadn't been since 1985...Madison, who finished as runner-up last year, opens with Lake City at 10 a.m.....Timberline of Boise has a 17-1 record entering the tournament.

at Lake City High, Coeur d'Alene

Defending champion: Century (38-4)

Notes: The Diamondbacks of Pocatello graduated three players off last year's championship team.....Skyview of Nampa (39-2) is the only team to beat 5A Lewiston this season....

at Coeur d'Alene High

Defending champion: Fruitland

Notes: Priest River brought home its first trophy from the state tournament last year, finishing second to the Grizzlies at Madison High in Rexburg....The Spartans will face Sugar-Salem.

at Lakeland High, Rathdrum

Defending champion: Nampa Christian

Notes: Orofino (14-4) won the District 1-2 tournament and will open the tournament against Cole Valley Christian on Friday at 8 a.m.... it is the Maniacs first trip to state in at least a decade, according to coach Shannon Erbst

1A Division I

at Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston

Defending champion: Challis failed to advance after winning last year's championship.

Notes: Wallace defeated Lakeside in a best 2-of-3 game District 1 tournament to advance to its first state tournament since 2007, before the classifications had split into two divisions.....Hagerman (20-1) is the likely favorite. Genesee, last year's runner-up, opens with Butte County.

1A Division II

at Lewiston High

Defending champion: Lighthouse Christian

Notes: Lighthouse Christian of Twin Falls opens the tournament against Rockland.....Tri-Valley (29-3) faces Camas County, which has won three of the five championships in the classification since the split.

If Lake City wins, it would play the winner between defending state champion and Region 1 top seed Lewiston (31-1) and District 3 No. 2 seed Vallivue of Caldwell at 3 p.m. A Timberwolf loss would pit the team against the Lewiston-Vallivue loser at 1 p.m. Friday.

Vallivue, last season's District 3 champion, lost to Timberline (17-1) in this year's District 3 title game.

Lake City's leading hitters are Natalie Taylor, Madi Farrell and Haile Watson, with Kasey Widmyer providing support.

If Lake City loses its first match Friday, it could still work its way back to the state championship in the double-elimination tournament.

Last season, Madison was the runner-up to Lewiston in a 25-23, 25-27, 25-15, 17-25, 15-6 loss in the championship match.

"(The key is) getting familiar with what they do," Taylor said. "Traditionally, I know they're very tall, they're very well-coached and we have to be ready for that. More than anything, we have to take care of things on our side. You're at the point of your season where if you're playing consistent and you're playing together, then you're going to have some success at state."

Madison's leader in kills is junior opposite hitter Cassidy Sellers. Other leaders in kills include juniors Bailey Klingler and Melissa Adams. The Bobcats' setter is Rachel Sutton.

Gabby Miller, who plays outside hitter and libero for Madison, is the only returning starter on the team. Mataia Roderick was the Bobcats' setter, but she has been out most of this season with a leg injury.