PREP VOLLEYBALL: Vikings win tourney, make flight on time

KUNA — Tied at 5 in the deciding set of the championship match of the Kuna Klassic, the shorthanded Coeur d’Alene Vikings knew they had to step it up — and fast. 

Not only to win the match, but catch their Saturday night flight home from Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene did both, beating Mountain View of Meridian 25-21, 25-27, 15-6 in the title match, then rushed to the airport.  

“They just knew we were on a time crunch,” Viking coach Carly Curtis said. “I told them, we have to get hustling, and dominated, so they stepped up. They were fired up.”

Coeur d’Alene (8-0) began the day with three matches to complete pool play — splitting with Bishop Kelly 23-25, 25-15, beating Ambrose 26-24, 25-21 and beating Grace Lutheran 25-5, 25-18. 

In bracket play, the Vikings beat Cole Valley Christian 21-25, 25-15, 15-13 in the quarterfinals and defeated Melba 25-23, 18-25, 20-18 in the semis. 

“There were some good teams down here,” Curtis said. “It was well worth it for us to come down.” 

Coeur d’Alene was missing three players, including two starters. 

Curtis praised the play of sophomore Bridget Maiani, who stepped in at libero for all-leaguer Gracie Legg and totaled 64 digs and 13 aces on Saturday. 

Senior Paisley Goings had 37 kills, 37 digs and 11 aces for the Vikings. Gianna Callari had 42 kills and nine blocks, Kaylee Paulson 36 kills and three blocks, Hannah Shafer 75 assists, Lizzy Hardy 62 assists, Camryn Farrar 37 digs, Aiva Reed three blocks. 

“I was happy to see how our girls battled. It was good to see the grit,” Curtis said. 

Curtis had praise for Mountain View, which eschewed the warmup before the title match to help speed things up for Coeur d’Alene. 

“They knew we were on a time crunch,” she said. 

Coeur d’Alene plays host to Lakeland on Tuesday. 

St. Maries d.  

Logos 

ST. MARIES — Senior Brenna Elliott totaled eight aces and 24 digs for the host Lumberjacks in a season-opening 25-16, 25-19, 11-25, 25-21 win over the Knights. 

Naomi Mueller, Dimercia Spooner and Raevyn Yearout had eight kills each for St. Maries. 

Mia Asbury had 33 assists for the Lumberjacks, who travel to Priest River on Thursday to open Central Idaho League play.