STATE 4A VOLLEYBALL: Speed stops Lakeland run for the moment

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

POST FALLS — Lakeland started the day with sky-high expectations.

They’ll just need to aim a little higher now.

Lakeland, the second seed, fell to defending champion Skyview of Nampa 25-17, 25-12, 25-15 in a quarterfinal match in the state 4A volleyball tournament at Post Falls HIgh on Friday.

“We had a little bit of a problem with their speed,” Lakeland coach Kelsie Badger said. “Triple blocking Ziya took one of our bigs out and we’re down another middle (Ashleigh Feld) and had a freshman in there right now playing a middle. Just the quickness and speed, and they’re a well-seasoned team.”

Skyview (27-6) has won three straight titles, two in 5A in 2020 and 2021, then in 4A in 2022.

“We knew coming in that they’re a great team, with great hitters and put up a good block,” Lakeland junior Ziya Munyer said. “We tried to move things around, and they played great defense. We weren’t really prepared, and I wish we could have leveled up more. They’re a great team, and it was expected of them. I wish we could have come in a little stronger.”

Munyer and Alyssa Ryckman had five kills each for Lakeland against Skyview. Senior Ella Terzulli had 10 assists, junior Olivia Zazuetta eight assists for the Hawks.

“I told the girls that we need to end the game strong enough to have some momentum going into the next game,” Badger said. “There were some good things to take from it, but we’ve got to stay focused on the next match and next play.”

Later, Lakeland kept its season alive with a 25-22, 18-25, 25-17, 25-19 win over Skyline of Idaho Falls.

Munyer and Landree Simon had 12 kills each against Skyline. Terzulli and Zazuetta had 18 assists each, Addy Jo Hocking 38 digs, Alyssa Ryckman four blocks and Lila Kiefer 21 digs to eliminate the Grizzlies (24-19).

Lakeland (23-8), which hadn’t been back to state since winning in 2020.

Skyview — the third seed –  has won three straight titles, two in 5A in 2020 and 2021 and in 4A in 2022.

“We didn’t think about it at all,” Skyview coach Kevin Murphy said. “To be frank, it doesn’t really matter. We knew getting Twin Falls was going to be a tough draw. I don’t know if that was seeding necessarily, but it happens.”

Lakeland also appeared at state in 2019, finishing fourth.

“It’s kind of fun to be closer to home,” Munyer said. “We can have more fun and students at the matches and support us. It’s fun to come in here and have it close to home.”

Sophomore Bellamie Beus had 14 kills for Skyview.

“We’ve got to have the mindset that it’s over and move on,” Munyer said. “We just need to wash it and get ready for them tomorrow and just need to continue to fix things on our side and not worry about them.”

“Lakeland’s a good team,” Murphy said. “They played really physical. No. 11 (Munyer) was scoring really well early and they did some good things mixing up their serve short and deep. That’s a really good team.”

“We need to come together and level it up for the next few games,” Badger said. 

Setter Alex Bower, who had 20 assists and eight kills, is committed to BYU.

“Alex is the only one that’s committed right now,” Murphy said. 

“The first time we’d seen Lakeland was when we walked into the gym today,” Murphy said. “And you could tell they played with physicality. We just wanted to serve and pass and be balanced defensively and use our ball control to our advantage.”

Earlier, Simon had 11 kills and seven digs, junior Olivia Zazuetta 19 assists for the Hawks in a 25-21, 25-16, 27-25 sweep of the Canyon Ridge Riverhawks in an opening round match.

After taking the first two sets, Lakeland trailed 25-24 before scoring the final three points to close out the match.

Munyer had nine kills, Ryckman seven kills, Terzulli 12 assists and   Hocking 17 digs for Lakeland.

JASON ELLIOTT/Press
Lakeland junior outside hitter Landree Simon gets up for a ball during an opening round match in the state 4A volleyball tournament at Post Falls High.