3A: Timberlake goes 2-1, stays alive
LOREN BENOIT/Press Timberlake’s Kylie Marneris, center, digs a Kimberly High serve in the opening round of the state volleyball tournament Friday morning at Lake City High School.
COEUR d’ALENE — Timberlake bounced back from an opening round loss to secure a trophy at the state 3A volleyball tournament at Lake City High.
The Tigers fell to Kimberly 25-18, 25-20, 25-20, then eliminated Homedale 25-12, 25-22, 23-25, 26-28, 17-15, then ousted District 1 champion Bonners Ferry 25-23, 25-15, 21-25, 22-25, 15-10.
Timberlake (18-19), last year’s state runner-up, will play Kimberly (17-2) today at 9 a.m. at Lake City, with the loser fourth and the winner advancing.
Kimberly’s height and blocking ability caused problems for Timberlake in the opening match.
“They had some good hitters, ran a faster offense, and kept our team out of system with some quick sets,” Timberlake coach Michelle Garwood said.
The Tigers had their moments, including the start of the second game as juniors McKeeley Tonkin and Kenzie Dean recorded several kills. But an eight-point run behind the serving of Kimberly’s Desi Overacre put the Bulldogs ahead 18-11, and an Overacre kill ended the game 25-20.
Dean blasted a crosscourt kill to pull the Tigers within 17-16 in the third game, but the Bulldogs (16-1) were able to close out the match.
Garwood was pleased to see Kyndal Lindley return to action, as the junior missed two weeks due to a concussion.
“I thought Kyndal did a good job stepping back in and contributing,” she added.
Dean led the Tigers with 10 kills and eight digs, while Tonkin had five kills and 14 assists. Libero Kylie Marneris had 11 digs for Timberlake.
Against Homedale, Dean had 23 kills and four digs, Tonkin 10 kills, 35 assists and two aces, and Graci Allen two blocks.
Against Bonners, Dean had 11 kills, nine digs and two aces, Kendall Lindley had seven kills and two aces, Tonkin 25 assists and two aces, Caitlin Garwood and Ashlyn Mallet two blocks each.