Clark Fork on to state again
DYLAN GREENE/Bonner County Daily Bee Clark Fork sophomore Caiya Yanik goes up to block a shot during the 1A Division II District 1 volleyball championship match Saturday at Clark Fork High School.
CLARK FORK — Clark Fork volleyball swept Mullan in the 1A Division II District 1 tournament championship Saturday to clinch its third straight trip to the state tournament.
The Wampus Cats (12-3) took down the Tigers (6-5) 25-13, 25-9, 25-15.
The tournament title comes after Clark Fork completed a perfect 8-0 season in the North Star League.
“I knew that it would take a lot of hard work to accomplish what we’ve accomplished, but they worked hard, they dug in and they played good,” Clark Fork coach Michelle Valliere said.
In the first set of the championship match, the Lady Cats rode a 16-0 run while senior Sophie McMahon was serving to a first-set victory.
Clark Fork dominated the second set as senior Ellie Kiebert blasted a couple kills to silence the Tigers.
The third game was more tightly contested early on but the Cats pulled away in the end.
Kiebert led the Cats with nine digs and five kills in the match. Freshman Paige Valliere notched 18 assists and McMahon added four aces and seven kills.
“Hats off to Clark Fork, they’re a well-coached ball club,” Mullan coach Dawn McKinnon said. “I just think we should’ve played a little better.”
Mullan advanced to the championship match after beating No. 3 seed Genesis Prep (2-15) 25-12, 25-17, 25-22 in the semifinals. No. 1 Clark Fork took down No. 4 Lakeside (7-14) 25-21, 25-14, 25-21 in the other semi.
The Tigers would’ve had to beat Clark Fork twice in order to win the tournament championship.
Clark Fork will now head to Lewiston High School to compete in the 1A Division II volleyball state tournament starting Friday. The Wampus Cats’ first match is at 9 a.m. vs. Rockland.
Michelle Valliere said its an honor to be one of the eight teams to play in state.
“If we just go down there and play hard I would be super happy but if we can go down there and make it to the second day I would be ecstatic,” she said.