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All tournaments today, Saturday
See schedules/B2
5A
At Coeur d’Alene High
NOTES: Since the school opened in 1994, Lake City has never advanced as far as the championship match at state in volleyball. The Timberwolves finished third in 2003 and 2011. But sporting a 28-1 record, and coming off a disappointing three-and-out finish at state last year, the Timberwolves are hoping to change that this year. Lake City has nearly everybody back from last year, and its only loss came Kuna, which lost to Post Falls in a state play-in match last Saturday. ... Bonneville of Idaho Falls is the defending champion, and might prove the biggest obstacle between Lake City and its first state title. Bonneville has been one of the top volleyball programs in Idaho for nearly the past three decades, whether it played in 4A or 5A. The Bees, who beat Timberline in last year’s title match, have won eight state titles — four each in 5A and 4A — and have finished second six other times. “The main thing is to have fun and just play volleyball, and play like we’re capable of,” first-year Lake City coach Mike Summers said. Since the start of October, Post Falls’ lone losses have came to Lake City — the Region 1 champion — to finish 4-2 down the stretch in coach Matt Barkley’s second season. “We’ve just been playing as a team since losing (at Coeur d’Alene in three sets on Sept. 28),” said Barkley, whose team is at state for the first time since 2012. “Since then, we’ve played differently and it’s really shown the last part of the season.” Post Falls swept Kuna — the lone team to beat Lake City this year — in a state play-in match last Saturday in Grangeville. “The girls are just playing for each other and it’s showing in the matches,” Barkley said. “Both in the gym and in the matches we’ve been playing, they’re just playing for each other right now. And it’s fun to watch.” ... Half of the eight-team field is comprised of squads from the Boise area, including District 3 champion Timberline of Boise, which lost to Lake City in the championship match of the Rocky Mountain tourney last month at Meridian. Eagle was runner-up at districts, followed by Centennial and Rocky Mountain.
4A
At Post Falls High
NOTES: Defending champion Skyview of Nampa is favored to repeat. The Hawks have finished no worse than third in each of the past six state tourneys. This year, Skyview tested itself out of state, winning a tournament in Lehi, Utah, and finishing eighth at an invitation-only tourney in Las Vegas. The Hawks have five players with Division I offers, including BYU commits Morgan and Whitney Bower, a libero and setter, respectively, and Weber State commit Dani Nay, an outside hitter. ... Moscow qualified for state for the second time in three years from Region 1. The Bears went two and out two years ago in their first trip to state since winning the state title in 2005. ... Sandpoint, a fixture at state in the past, failed to qualify for the second time in three years. The Bulldogs have missed state just five times since 1976. ... Twin Falls and Century of Pocatello are among those hoping to challenge Skyview this year.
3A
At Lake City High
NOTES: Timberlake, led by junior outside hitter and Intermountain League MVP Kenzie Dean, returns roughly half its players from last year’s squad that reached the title match for the first time, before falling to Sugar-Salem. “We did, however, graduate some very crucial positions and lose some strong kids, however I feel like the players I have put in those roles this year have worked hard to fill those shoes,” said Tigers coach Michelle Garwood, who started the Timberlake program in 1998. “We are currently battling many factors such as illness and two players who are literally just returning from concussion protocols so we have been changing things up to make it work. Again, the kids I have put into those roles have stepped up for us. We shall see how it goes, but we do have a bunch of players who won’t quit and will fight tooth and nail to make the plays.” ... Sugar-Salem finished second to Shelley two years ago, when state was at Lake City. South Fremont beat Sugar-Salem for the District 6 title this year. If Timberlake gets past Kimberly, the District 4 champs, in its opener, the Tigers could face South Fremont in the second round. “If we play the defense I know we are capable of, we will be right in there, too,” Garwood said. ... Bonners Ferry, which won the District 1 tournament, is at state for the second straight year, and third time in four seasons. The Badgers are looking to bring home a trophy from state for the first time since 1994, when they were fourth.
2A
At St. Maries High
NOTES: St. Maries finished third in last year’s tournament and return nine players from that roster. “We’re actually a little older with more experience,” second-year St. Maries coach Rachele Asbury said. “Most of my team this year has seen state competition and knows what it’s about. We’re a completely different team from last year and still have to learn to work together, but now the girls are more used to what I want instead of learning what I want.” ... Defending champion Nampa Christian is led by 6-foot-1 middle blocker Megan Yett. Ranked the 41st-best player in the 2018 class by PrepVolleyball.com, Yett has verbally committed to Utah, and has been been recruited by Division I programs all over the country. Playing in a club volleyball tournament a couple years ago, as the story goes, Yett hit a quick set from the middle so hard and so fast that the ball knocked out an opponent on the other side of the net. ... Other contenders include Malad, which eliminated St. Maries last year before losing to Nampa Christian in the finals. Malad won the title two years ago when the tournament was at Lakeland, with St. Maries finishing fourth.
1A Division I
At Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston
NOTES: Troy beat Horseshoe Bend for the title last year. Both are expected to battle it out again this year, along with Genesee.
1A Division II
At Lewiston High
NOTES: Clark Fork carries the torch for the North Star League this year at state. Defending champion Lighthouse Christian returns, as does runner-up Butte County and third-place finisher Watersprings, which plays Clark Fork in the first round.