Higher expectations

After rolling past Lewiston in straight sets last week to wrap up their sixth straight regional title and improve to 29-1 on the season, the Lake City Timberwolves celebrated by ...

... coming together quietly in the middle of their side of the court, followed by a little bit of clapping and acknowledgment, like it was another ho-hum point, or set, or match.

“I think we have higher expectations,” Lake City senior outside hitter Ashley Kaufman said.

Understandable.

Coming off a second-place finish at state last year — the program’s best finish since the school opened in 1994 — and with most of that firepower back, the Timberwolves have their sights set on bringing home a championship when the state 5A tournament unfolds Friday and Saturday at Ridgevue High in Nampa.

“We can’t take it for granted,” second-year Lake City coach Mike Summers said. “We have to go down and earn every game, earn every point.”

Led by Kaufman and senior setter Klaire Mitchell, the Timberwolves return numerous players from last year’s state team that eventually lost to Bonneville of Idaho Falls in the semifinals, beat Madison of Rexburg in the third-place match, then lost to Bonneville again in the championship.

This year, Lake City beefed up its schedule in an attempt to find that state tournament-level competition during the regular season. The Timberwolves returned to the Rocky Mountain Classic in Meridian, where they faced several of the top teams from the Boise area. They added a trip to the SunDome Festival in Yakima, where they suffered their only loss to Lynden (Wash.) Christian.

“Last year was a really good learning experience for us,” senior libero Reilley Chapman said of state. “We didn’t finish how we wanted to, but we got to play some really tough competition ...

“This year we did a lot of away tournaments to help us get ready, we got a lot of opportunities to play different teams ... that’s going to help us a lot.”

Being tested more during the regular season this year has apparently helped. In some matches this season, the T-Wolves have looked almost flawless.

“I think we serve a lot more aggressively than we did last year,” Summers said. “We have more girls that can be that aggressive server. We were a good defensive team last year, I think that’s increased a little bit (this year), a little more range. We’ve also got some people that we can go to off the bench that don’t really drop the level of defense.”

Several of the returnees, including Chapman and junior outside hitter Janae Rayborn, are playing increased roles this year.

One of the few varsity newcomers this year is Tanai Jenkins, a sophomore middle blocker.

“Our middles offer us a little more speed, more athleticism,” Summers said. “Tanai is just killing it — she’s been huge all season, but the last few matches she has come up big with some great blocks at some great times.”

Last year, Lake City was more outside hitter-heavy. This year, Summers said, the T-Wolves are more balanced.

“Whether Klaire’s in the front row or the back row, we’ve got options,” he said. “Kate DuCoeur’s doing a great job, and so is Kayla Freed, going in on the right side. And, of course Janae Rayborn and ‘AK’ (Kaufman) on the outside. And we have three middles (Jenkins and seniors Claire Heberer and Brenna Hawkins) that can all step in and put the ball away.”

Bonneville dropped down to 4A this year. But Skyview of Nampa, a 4A power for years, moved up this year and brings a 16-0 record into state.

“It has driven us a lot, actually,” Chapman said of last year’s runner-up finish. “It’s been on the back of our mind this entire season, that we want to go back and get the title.”

“We know what it takes to win it this year,” added Kaufman, a three-sport standout who has committed to play volleyball at NCAA Division II Central Washington.