Viking state of experience — Boasting nine seniors, Coeur d'Alene looks for big things in third straight trip to state
MARK NELKE/Press With Kate Phillips (8), Angela Goggin (10) and Sarah Wilkey (5) in front, and Lauren Phillips (3) behind them, the Coeur d'Alene Vikings form a wall as a teammate prepares to serve. "It’s a legal setup, so you can make kinda like a wall, so they have to see around it," Coeur d'Alene coach Carly Curtis said. "You’ll see that a lot if you watch the college level, or the men’s game. The men do it a ton. We’ve worked on toughening up our serves, and it’s paid off."
By MARK NELKE
Sports editor
At first glance, losing three seniors who played huge roles on last year's squad would have been tough for many teams to overcome the following season.
All three are playing college volleyball (eventually) — middle blocker Elly Schraeder (NCAA Division I University of San Diego), setter/outside hitter Taylin Rowley (NAIA Southern Oregon University) and middle blocker Liliana Hare (North Idaho College).
But at second glance, replacing those three seniors from last season were nine seniors this season — several of which have also played key roles in recent years.
That's why the Coeur d'Alene Vikings are back in the state 5A volleyball tournament for the third straight year, and second straight as Region 1 champions.
"A lot of these girls have played together since they were 9," said Carly Curtis, in her third season back in her second stint as head coach at her alma mater.
Coeur d'Alene (11-3) opens Friday at 7 a.m. PDT vs. Mountain View of Meridian at the state 5A tournament at Skyline High in Idaho Falls.
This year's Vikings are led by a pair of four-year varsity standouts — setter/hitter Lauren Phillips and outside hitter Sarah Wilkey — and senior libero Maggie Bloom, a three-year starter.
"After losing last year’s seniors, we really knew we had to step up," said Phillips, who has verbally committed to NCAA Division II Point Loma Nazarane University in San Diego. "Sarah and I, being here since freshman year, we knew we had to take advantage of our experience, and really help everybody else."
"We had a lot of random injuries (this year), said Wilkey, who has committed to Division II Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo. "Girls out. Some games, sometimes we just weren’t there. We had some random losses that I couldn’t tell you what happened, but it sucked. But it kicked us in the butt, and we learned from it."
Bloom, who hopes to play in college as well, went from the "C" team as a freshman to starting libero one year later.
"A little intimidating, but everybody was supportive, so it worked out," she said. "As a libero … there’s a lot of pressure, especially in serve-receive. The key is not to let it get in your head."
Several others have stepped up this season, like sophomore middle/outside hitter Madi Symons, junior middle blocker Skylar Burke, senior outside/right side hitter Kate Phillips, fraternal twin of Lauren, as well as senior outside/right side hitters Emma Fahy and Paige Drechsel, among others.
"The kids that came from last year’s bench to this year stepped it up," Curtis said. "Sarah just had to get back healthy again (from a hamstring injury). Lauren was more, being able to stay calm, run the court, get her teammates fired up. Sarah was just making sure everybody was working hard.
"I think our middles did awesome this year. They really set up a tough block for the other team to deal with. Maggie has been solid for us all year; she’s very calm, she doesn’t get rattled. She’s a very smart girl so she knows how to adjust to the offense."
One key newcomer is senior middle blocker Angela Goggin, who had to play on the junior varsity last year after transferring from Lake City.
"It would have been great to have her last year," Curtis said. "She’s actually come such a long ways, just timing wise and confidence wise. She’s always been athletic. This year she just got better and better."
After back-to-back trips to state, Curtis said the Vikings are getting more familiar with what the teams in the rest of the state bring to the table.
"They’re pretty consistent on what they attack, and we’ve just got to be consistent with our ball-control," Curtis said. "We just got rattled a little bit on ball control last year, and we couldn’t run our offense. ... They know how to pick on your serve-receive a little bit."
Coeur d'Alene has went 1-2 at state each of the last two seasons, tying for fifth, one match from a trophy.
Last year the Vikings needed five sets to beat Timberline of Boise in their first match, then lost a wild four-setter to Madison of Rexburg. By the third match that day, Coeur d'Alene was drained, and bowed out in a three-set sweep by Skyview of Nampa.
"That’s what killed us. Our first game went 2½ hours and we won, and our second game went 2, and by then, we had no motivation, we were just drained," Bloom said. "We learned we have to push and fight through, and get it done sooner. Because it’s a lot of games in one day at state."
Volleyball is an emotional sport more than most, with wild celebrations after many points, especially later in matches.
The Vikings, like others, have had to adjust — foot-fives instead of high-fives.
"That’s been odd, but something we’ve had to adjust to," Wilkey said. "And we’re just grateful to have a season."
"It’s been crazy, and we’ve been hopeful and we’re so grateful to get this opportunity," Lauren Phillips added. "We just know every game that we might not have one, so we’re not taking anything for granted — just leaving it all out on the court. We’re just so thankful to have this season, and have this ability to do this this year."