Wampus Cats punch ticket to state
CLARK FORK — Junior setter Brooke Stevens orchestrated the attack with solid command, posting 50 assists, four kills, four aces and two blocks, leading the host Wampus Cats to the 1A Division II District 1 volleyball championship on Saturday at Clark Fork High School.
The North Star League champs and No. 1 seed Wampus Cats (15-7) opened with a decisive 25-13, 25-13, 25-13 sweep of No. 4 seed Lakeside (5-14), then capped off the day with another impressive 25-16, 25-11, 25-16 sweep of No. 2 seed Kootenai in the championship match, earning a berth at state next Friday in Lewiston.
Cats head coach Cindy Derr, who takes her sixth team to state out of nine years at the helm, said her team was on a mission from the first serve to the last spike.
“They came on to the court not only ready to play, but determined as 12 strong to finish the day and punch their ticket to state,” said Derr. “They didn’t look back from the minute they took the court.”
Hailey Bristol tallied 22 kills, six digs and four aces, Tessa Sutton 10 kills and two blocks, Ellie Kiebert nine kills, 12 digs and four aces, and Ellie Lambert anchored the back row defensively with 27 digs at libero. Derr said it was the best back row defense the team has shown all season.
Kootenai (12-4) swept No. 3 Genesis Prep (8-8) in the other semi 25-23, 25-18, 25-21, advancing to face Clark Fork in the championship.
Madison Napierala had 15 kills, 15 assists, six blocks and three aces for Kootenai in its two matches on Saturday. Kaili Gentry added 10 kills, 11 digs, three blocks and an ace.
“The team did a great job of focusing against Genesis Prep,” Kootenai coach Mary Gentry said. “Unfortunately, battling the end of sicknesses and injuries, we just didn’t have enough left in us to finish the job against Clark Fork. The score does not reflect the sweat and heart that the girls left on the court today. It has been my privilege to coach such an amazing group of young women and I could not be more proud.”
Kiebert, who leads the Cats in aces on the season, had several long service runs in the championship, as the Cats kept control of all six sets on the day.
“The third set the girls knew they had the advantage and just kept playing their game of picking up most of the digs and hitting strong from the front row,” lauded Derr. “Ali Sutton came in and played a solid game as middle hitter for her sister in both matches to help seal the deal.”
The Cats open state on Friday against Watersprings, the second-place team from District 5-6, at Lewiston High’s Booth Hall.
Post Falls d.
Kuna
GRANGEVILLE — With a little passion on Saturday, the Post Falls volleyball team extended its season another week.
Allison Munday had 17 kills for the Trojans in a 25-14, 25-19, 25-13 win over the Kuna Kavemen in a state 5A tournament play-in match.
Post Falls (26-12) advances to face Eagle on Friday at 11 a.m. in an opening-round state match at Coeur d’Alene High.
Kayla Mayo had 16 assists and eight digs, Sydney Parks four blocks, Courtney Finney three aces, Ali Carpenter three aces and Macky Morris nine digs for Post Falls, which returns to state for the first time since 2012.
“Our serving and defense kept them out of system all night,” second-year coach Post Falls coach Matt Barkley said. “Courtney had 22 service points and Ali had eight. Our blocking was really solid too. We just played with a lot of passion and determination and weren’t going to be stopped today.”