STATE VOLLEYBALL: Coeur d'Alene, Lakeland on to semifinals
5A
IDAHO FALLS — To prepare for Friday’s 8 a.m. local time (7 a.m. PDT) match to begin the state 5A volleyball tournament at Skyline High, Coeur d’Alene coach Carly Curtis scheduled a 7 a.m. practice for this past Sunday.
“To make sure that it didn’t shock us,” Curtis said of the early start.
Apparently it didn’t, as the Vikings rolled past the Mountain View Mavericks of Meridian 25-15, 25-21, 25-19 in a first-round match Friday morning.
“Everybody was awake and ready to go,” Curtis said.
With this year’s bracket modified from double-elimination to single-elimination with a consolation bracket due to COVID-19, Coeur d’Alene is just one win from playing for a state championship.
The Vikings (12-3) will play Skyview (13-0) of Nampa, state runners-up the last two years, today at 10:30 a.m. PDT in a semifinal game. The winner advances to the championship game tonight at 6; the loser plays for third place at 3:30.
Sarah Wilkey had 14 kills, nine digs and three aces, Madi Symons 10 kills, Skylar Burke three blocks, Lauren Phillips 15 assists and four aces, Courtney Garwood 14 assists and Maggie Bloom 26 digs for Coeur d'Alene.
“We just came out on fire, and we had good ball-control today, so our offense was able to run efficiently,” Curtis said. “We were able to get them out of system.”
Coeur d’Alene lost in Skyview in its third match of the first day at state last year, a match which eliminated the Vikings at the end of a long, draining day.
“They’re still tough,” Curtis said of Skyview. “They’ve got a 6-3 girl, a 6-4 girl and a 6-5 girl. We’ve still got to play our game, and worry about our side.”
4A
Lakeland powers past
Preston, into semis
KIMBERLY — Lakeland established it on Friday.
Now to carry it on to today's play.
Katy Ryan had 22 kills and three blocks, Olivia Cooper 16 digs for the Hawks in a 25-19, 25-14, 25-16 win over the Preston Indians in the opening round of the state 4A tournament at Kimberly High.
"I was really proud of the energy the girls came out with," Lakeland coach Kelsie Badger said. "And I'm looking forward to carrying the momentum on for today."
Abbey Neff had 25 assists and three aces, Bethany Johnson three blocks, Kenna Simon three blocks and Ellie Carlson three aces for Lakeland (11-6), which faces Burley in a semifinal match today at 10:30 a.m.
Burley defeated Nampa in five sets in its opener.
3A
Timberlake out,
Kellogg to play
for fourth
TWIN FALLS — After falling to defending champion Sugar-Salem 25-9, 25-14, 25-16, the Tigers were eliminated by Filer 25-12, 27-25, 25-15 at Twin Falls High.
Timberlake finishes 7-12.
Kellogg (14-3) rebounded from a 22-25, 25-7, 25-21, 25-21 loss to Kimberly with a 25-22, 25-16, 25-22 win over American Falls to advance to today's consolation championship match.
Kellogg will face Filer today at 8 a.m.
2A
St. Maries falls
out in two
BUHL — The Lumberjacks fell in the opening round to Melba 25-17, 25-12, 25-16, then lost to Valley 31-29, 19-25, 26-24, 26-24 at Buhl High to finish 9-6.
Against Melba, Sami Badgett had 15 digs for St. Maries. Mackenzie Hammond had seven assists, Allie Brebner two aces, and Shelby Martin, Jayden Martin, Kirsten Miller and Taci Watkins two kills each.
Against Valley, Hammond had 22 assists, Martin and Miller seven kills each, Badgett 15 digs for the Lumberjacks, who finished 9-6.
“Not the outcome that we wanted at the state tournament,” St. Maries coach Rachele Fischer said. “We faced many challenges and obstacles this year, like not even knowing if we would be able to have a season at all, starting three weeks late, the constant unknowns with COVID, and a few injuries. Success comes in many forms, and we are just thankful that we even got to play.”
1A Division I
Wallace advances to
consolation final
JEROME — After a setback to Oakley to start the day, the Miners (12-5) rebounded to beat Liberty Charter 25-16, 26-24, 20-25, 25-19 to advance to the consolation championship match today at Jerome High.
1A Division II
Clark Fork goes
out in two
BURLEY — After falling 25-11, 25-23, 25-21 to Castleford, the Wampus Cats bowed out of the tournament with a 25-18, 25-22, 25-22 loss to the Mustangs of Deary at Burley High.
Clark Fork finishes 12-4.