PREP VOLLEYBALL: Post Falls edges Lake City, moves into first in 5A IEL

COEUR d’ALENE — The Post Falls Trojans rallied to win the third set, and went on to beat the Lake City Timberwolves 16-25, 25-23, 26-24, 29-31, 15-11 in 5A Inland Empire League volleyball Saturday afternoon at Lake City.

Post Falls (11-2, 4-1 5A IEL) trailed 20-15 and 24-22 in the third set before rallying.

“We struggled to finish against a good team,” Lake City coach Michelle Kleinberg said.

Kylie Munday had 19 kills, 21 assists, 12 digs and three blocks for Post Falls. Brielle Nagel had 13 kills and four aces, Kassie Gardiner 18 assists and three aces, Maya Blake 14 digs and three aces, Rylee Hartwig four blocks, Claire Holding 12 digs.

“When they were out of system, their offensive attack stayed strong, and it caught us off guard,” Kleinberg said.

Hanah Stoddard had 16 kills, 22 assists and seven aces for Lake City (5-3, 2-3). Nellie Reese had seven kills, 20 assists and two aces, Tanai Jenkins eight kills and two blocks, Alissa Stennett nine kills, Brenna Hawkins six kills.

Post Falls beat Lake City 15-10 in the fifth set in the first league meeting Sept. 10. Saturday’s win moved the Trojans into first place in the 5A IEL, a half game ahead of Coeur d’Alene (7-2, 3-1).

“It’s all just momentum shifts, and we have to do better, when we get control, we keep it,” Kleinberg said. “They did a better job keeping control when they had it.”

Post Falls plays host to Moscow and St. Maries in a tri-match on Tuesday.

Lake City returns to action Thursday at home vs. Coeur d’Alene.

Sandpoint d.

Coeur d’Alene

COEUR d’ALENE — Gabby Hicks had a big match with 23 kills, 10 digs, four blocks and two aces as the visiting Bulldogs knocked off the shorthanded Vikings 25-18, 25-18, 20-25, 25-23 in nonleague play at Viking Court.

“This was a big win for us,” Sandpoint coach Karen Alsager said. “Gabby is stroking the ball so well.”

Bella Phillips added eight kills and six blocks for Sandpoint. Kaylee Banks had 27 assists, Cece Deprez 14, Kinzie Ward 15 digs, Sam Koster three aces.

“I still don’t think it’s our best, but it was our best match this year,” Alsager said. “We could still do a little bit more.”

“They played really well; they had great ball control,” Coeur d’Alene coach Carly Curtis said of Sandpoint (3-8). “Gabby had a phenomenal game.”

Coeur d’Alene (7-2) was missing both its outside hitters, Sarah Wilkey (injury) and Madi Symons.

Lauren Phillips had 15 kills, 14 assists and two aces for the Vikings. Angela Goggin had nine kills, Courtney Garwood 17 assists, Maggie Bloom 27 digs, Paige Drechsel 18 digs, Kate Phillips three blocks and four aces, Emma Fahy three blocks.

Coeur d’Alene plays host to Lakeland on Tuesday.

Sandpoint travels to 4A Inland Empire League-leading Lakeland on Thursday.

Lakeland d.

Moscow

RATHDRUM — Jozee Russell had 12 kills and the host Hawks started strong in a 25-9, 30-28, 25-21 victory over the Bears in 4A Inland Empire League play at Hawk Court.

“We played well the first set,” Lakeland coach Kelsie Badger said. “I mixed it up and put some other players in and we just played flat the other two sets. Jozee Russell had a great game for us today. We served hard and that had them scrambling most of the day, but we also missed too many serves as well.”

Addisen Kiefer had nine kills for Lakeland (8-5, 3-0 4A IEL), which clinched a tie for the league title. Katy Ryan had seven kills and three blocks, Abbey Neff 17 assists and three aces, Olivia Cooper 12 digs, Bethany Johnson four blocks, Ellie Carlson three aces.

Moscow fell to 0-5, 0-3.

Lakeland travels to Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday.