Lake City third at Battle of the Best tournament
REXBURG — Nine matches later — including six on Saturday — the Lake City Timberwolves finished third at the seven-team Battle of the Best tournament at Madison High.
Lake City wrapped up round-robin play by losing to 4A Bonneville of Idaho Falls 25-16, 25-21, losing to 5A Timberline of Boise 25-16, 25-14 and falling to 4A Century of Pocatello 25-17, 25-18.
In bracket play, the Timberwolves beat Century 25-17, 25-21, lost to Bonneville 25-19, 25-13 in the semifinals, then beat 5A Thunder Ridge of Idaho Falls 24-26, 25-19, 16-14 in the third-place match.
The tourney, put together by defending state 5A champion Madison, was designed to attract the top 5A and 4A volleyball teams in Idaho.
“The girls did an awesome job battling with those tough teams,” Lake City coach Mike Summers said. “The scores didn’t reflect it at times, but the girls battled. I was really pleased with our blocking and our defense. Our serving was really good; we’re starting to put some things together.”
Senior Kate DuCoeur had 35 kills, senior Janae Rayborn 27 on the day for Lake City (15-9). DuCoeur had 10 kills, Rayborn six in the win over Thunder Ridge. Sophomore Nellie Reese had 64 assists on the day. Freshman Ella Hosfeld, brought up this week from the junior varsity due to an injury to Hanah Stoddard, had 49 assists.
Jaya Miller had 12 digs, Rayborn seven vs. Bonneville in the first match Saturday. Tanae Jenkins had three blocks, Rayborn five digs, Miller two aces vs. Timberline. Miller had nine digs, Jenkins and Hannah Rowan three kills, Hawkins and DuCoeur two blocks each vs. Century.
In bracket play, Rowan had five kills, Jenkins four kills and three blocks, Hawkins four kills, Kiki Cates nine digs and two aces, Rayborn five digs against Century. Rayborn and DuCoeur had six digs each gainst Bonneville. Against Thunder Ridge, Jenkins had six kills and two blocks, Hawkins five kills and six blocks, Rowan five kills, Cates and Miller nine digs each, Rayborn seven digs.
Summers said this tournament and last weekend’s Rocky Mountain Classic in Meridian gave the Timberwolves a chance to play against most of the other top teams in the rest of the state.
“We’ve been all over the state; we should know what to expect,” Summers said. “We’re right up there in the mix with the top teams (in the state).”
Lake City (15-9) travels to Post Falls on Tuesday.
St. Maries d.
Grangeville
ST. MARIES — Kirsten Miller had eight kills, and Jayden Martin had five kills and three aces as the Lumberjacks opened Central Idaho League play with a 25-19, 25-20, 26-24 victory over the visiting Bulldogs.
Mackenzie Hammond had 16 assists for St. Maries (4-13, 1-0 CIL). Allie Brebner had 14 digs, Sami Badgett 11 digs, Berkli McGreal four aces for the Lumberjacks.
Grangeville is 0-2 in league.
St. Maries travels to Timberlake on Tuesday.