STATE VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP: Vikings go 2-0, reach semis

At state for the first time since 2008, the Coeur d'Alene Vikings had the expected early jitters on Friday's first day of the state 5A volleyball tournament.

Fortunately for the Vikings, they didn't last long.

Coeur d'Alene overcame a first-set loss to beat Mountain View of Meridian 17-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-14 in its first match Friday morning.

In the afternoon, Coeur d'Alene rolled past Centennial 25-16, 25-15, 25-13.

The Vikings (20-3) will play Idaho Falls (31-9), last year's state runner-up, in the semifinals today at 10 a.m. PDT.

"In the first game of the tournament, as expected, we were nervous and not quite ourselves," Coeur d'Alene coach Dee Pottenger said. "The girls got over their nervousness quickly. We got settled in in Game 2 and started looking more like ourselves by the end of the match."

"During the warmups vs. Centennial I could tell we were really focused; we were hitting the ball high and hard, I could tell we were comfortable and not ready to compete. They got over that inexperience quickly; I'm pleased it only lasted one game."

Megan Ramseyer had 21 kills, 18 assists and seven digs for Coeur d'Alene vs. Mountain View. Missy Huddleston added 15 kills and eight digs, Sydnee Bybee had five kills and four blocks, Maura Donovan seven digs, Ali Williams 20 assists and five digs. Coeur d'Alene had 12 service errors and three aces.

Against Centennial, Ramseyer had 15 kills, 21 assists, six digs and three aces, Huddleston had 10 kills, 11 digs and three blocks, Williams nine kills and 18 assists, Bybee eight kills, Donovan seven digs.

Coeur d'Alene had seven aces and just three service errors.

"Both Maura and Zoe (Burgess) both served well, passed well and played great defense, and helped keep us in system, Pottenger said.

Idaho Falls, buoyed by a large hometown turnout, beat Rocky Mountain of Meridian 3-0 and Vallivue of Caldwell 3-1.

"It'll be a tough one, but the girls are excited to play them," Pottenger said. "Idaho Falls has as many fans as all the other schools put together; it's a fun atmosphere."

Lewiston, the two-time defending state champions, went two and out, losing to Vallivue in four games and Rocky in five.

Sandpoint, the Region 1 champion, making its 36th state appearance in 38 years, went two and out at Kimberly High, losing to Bishop Kelly of Boise 12-25, 12-25, 27-25, 25-22, 15-12 and Preston 25-19, 20-25, 27-25, 25-20. The Bulldogs, under first-year coach and former Sandpoint standout Erin (McGovern) Roos, finished 16-18.

Bishop Kelly and defending champion Century of Pocatello advanced to today's semifinal.

Bonners Ferry, the District 1 champion in its first state appearance since 2002, went 1-2 at Twin Falls High and was eliminated on the first day.

The Badgers lost to Sugar-Salem 25-17, 25-17, 23-25, 25-21, beat Parma 3-0 and lost to Kimberly 3-0.

Fruitland and Shelley advanced to today's semifinal.

1A Division II

Kootenai, the District 1 champion, went out in two at Declo High, losing to Lighthouse Christian 25-11, 25-12, 25-13 and losing to Logos 25-17, 25-20, 25-20. It was the first state appearance since 2005 for Kootenai (6-15).

Dietrich and Mackay advanced to today's semifinal.