4A REGION 1 VOLLEYBALL: Lakeland ends the 'curse', returns to state for first time since 2020

By MARK NELKE

Sports editor

RATHDRUM — After back-to-back promising seasons which ended in disappointment in the match to go to state, the Lakeland Hawks switched sides of the court this year — where their bench was, and the side they played on.

They said it was mostly so they could be on the same side of the net as their students section.

But as one of the players noted afterward, pointing to the other side of the net perhaps not so jokingly, “That side is cursed.”

Curse or not, top-seeded Lakeland erased two years of frustrating finishes by fending off a spirited effort by the second-seeded Sandpoint Bulldogs, winning 25-19, 24-26, 25-15, 25-19 in the championship match of the 4A Region 1 volleyball tournament Thursday night at Hawk Court.

“It felt really good,” said Lakeland junior Landree Simon, who had kills on the last three points to send the Hawks to state. “I just felt like the last two years we weren’t able to put the ball away, so I felt like I wanted to put the ball away and get the job done.”

In each of the past two seasons, Lakeland was also the top seed at regionals. But each year, the Hawks lost on their home court to Moscow in the winner-to-state, loser-goes-home regional final.

“It definitely lit a little fire,” Hawks junior Ziya Munyer said. “Every time we had a little dip in our play, I was just thinking about last year, and I was like, I don’t want to feel like that again. I think we all came together as a team, and did what we needed to do to win.”

This year was different.

Lakeland (22-7) advances to state Oct. 27-28 at Post Falls High. The Hawks qualified for state for the first time since 2020, when they won their first state title.

“It means so much to me,” said Lakeland senior Lila Kiefer, a floater as a freshman who was on that state title team three years ago. “I feel like after winning state my freshman year, and then coming back the next two years and losing it, it was just so hard on our self-esteem as a team. So to come back with the fire and win this, just means so much to me.”

“Emotions are just all over the place right now,” sixth-year Lakeland coach Kelsie Badger said. “Excitement. Relief. I’m just super excited for the girls, to be able to have this opportunity. This is such a great group of girls; it’s been an exciting year with them. We’ve battled injuries, we’ve battled sickness, and this team has just proven itself time and time again. Super proud of them.”

Simon had 21 kills and 19 digs for Lakeland. Munyer added 16 kills and six blocks. Kiefer had 11 kills and 24 digs. Ella Terzulli, the team’s other senior, had 30 assists and three aces. Junior Olivia Zazuetta had 18 assists. Junior libero Addy Jo Hocking had 35 digs and five aces.

“I think our whole team worked really hard for our seniors this year,” Hocking said, “because they put in a lot of work for our team, and they make our team a team. I feel like we’ve worked for this for three years, and it’s nice that it finally came true.”

Kiefer’s tip kill gave Lakeland the win in set one. After Sandpoint evened up the match, Lakeland came out strong in the third set, and Kiefer’s right side kill gave the Hawks the set.

In the fourth set, Alyssa Ryckman’s kill from the right side gave Lakeland a 19-18 lead. At 22-19, Landree delivered a kill from the outside, then another kill from the outside, then another kill from the outside, and the Hawks were on to state.

“I’m really excited, and I’m really thankful we did it,” Terzulli said. “And I had a really fun time playing with all these people tonight. I think we all knew this was going to be the year we bounced back, and it was finally our time, and we proved that tonight.”

“It’s hard to find the words to explain the fight and passion I saw on the court tonight, and after shedding a few tears these girls were able to hold their heads high because of the effort they gave,” first-year Sandpoint coach and former Bulldog star Piper Wahlin said. “That’s all I could've asked for, for this unforgettable group. Good luck to Lakeland at state.”