PREP VOLLEYBALL: Lake City wins another wild one against Post Falls to advance at districts
COEUR d’ALENE — For the third time in as many meetings this season, the Lake City Timberwolves and Post Falls Trojans played a five-set match.
In all three matchups, Lake City won the fifth set, including Thursday’s first-round, loser-out match in the 6A District 1 tournament, where the second-seeded Timberwolves won the final two sets and ended the third-seeded Trojans’ season with a 25-13, 9-25, 18-25, 25-21, 15-12 victory at Lake City High.
“It wouldn’t be a game against Post Falls without it going five sets, but I guess that’s what happens when you have two teams that refuse to give up,” Lake City coach Michelle Kleinberg said.
Lake City (18-11) plays at top-seeded Coeur d’Alene (24-6) on Saturday at noon in the first match of a best-of-3 series for the district title. The second match is Tuesday at Lake City, and the deciding match, if necessary, is at Coeur d’Alene next Thursday.
The district champ advances to state; the runner-up goes to a state play-in match next Saturday at Grangeville.
Post Falls finished 16-10.
Senior Jessalyn Wilson had 16 kills, 15 digs and two aces for Post Falls. Lola Jeanselme had 20 digs and three aces, Taylor Winey 17 assists, Miranda FitzSimmons 12 digs and four aces, Josie Hocking seven blocks and three kills.
“Our 'relentless’ identity came through in the moments we needed it most,” Kleinberg said. “Post Falls demanded our best and didn’t give us an inch when we lacked discipline. It’s taken every kid on the roster to get to this point and on any given night, it’s someone new acting as that spark to get us to the finish line. Tonight, it was Miranda. On Saturday, who knows who it’ll be, but I know it’ll be team-centered volleyball.”
For Post Falls, Lucy Carr had 19 assists, 14 digs and four aces, Trinity Byrne 12 kills, Vanessa Kison 10 kills and eight aces, Tiffany Foxx six blocks, Lexi Norisada 18 digs, Zuri Blood 13 assists, Kaela Gump five blocks and four aces.
“Another great battle tonight,” Post Falls coach Matt Barkley said. “I couldn’t have asked for more effort from our team tonight. They gave everything they had. Our seniors, Vanessa, Trinity, Kaela, Lexi, and Summer (Dan), helped lead the way all season, not only with their play, but their leadership on and off the court. We’re going to miss them Hats off to Michelle and Lake City. They’re a well-coached team that has a lot of grit.”
Lakeland d.
Moscow
MOSCOW — Junior Alyssa Ryckman had 13 kills as the visiting Hawks swept the Bears 25-12, 25-17, 25-13 at Bear Den in the Inland Empire League and regular season finale.
Ziya Munyer added 12 kills and seven blocks for 5A Lakeland (18-10, 7-2 IEL), which finished second in the combined 6A/5A IEL, ahead of two of the three 6A teams. Landree Simon had 11 kills, Olivia Zazuetta 39 assists, Addy Jo Hocking 15 digs and three aces, Chloe Neff three aces.
“Great win on the road to finish out our regular season,” Lakeland coach Kelsie Badger said.
Moscow is 8-12, 2-7.
Lakeland is the No. 1 seed for the 5A Region 1 tournament, and will host No. 4 seed Sandpoint on Tuesday. Also Tuesday, third-seeded Moscow travels to second-seeded Lewiston. Both are loser-out matches.
The winners meet next Thursday at the higher seed for the first and second matches of a best-of-3 series for the regional title. The third match, if necessary, would be next Saturday. Only the regional champion advances to state.
Bonners Ferry d.
Timberlake
SPIRIT LAKE — The Tigers will be the second seed in the 4A District 1 best-of-3 championship series following a 21-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-23 loss to the Badgers in an Intermountain League match at Timberlake High.
Bonners won both league matchups, both in four sets.
Timberlake (11-9, 0-2 IML) will visit Bonners Ferry (11-8, 2-0) in Game 1 on Monday at 6 p.m. Game 2 is Wednesday, with an if-necessary game on Thursday.
Maci Sandbank had 12 kills and nine blocks, Diana Nelson six kills and 10 blocks, Addie Archer six kills, five aces and 24 digs, Sophia Soumas 24 assists, Isabelle Torr 27 digs and Amarijana Olivieri 18 digs and five kills for Timberlake.
Lakeside d.
Clark Fork
PLUMMER — The second-seeded Knights kept their season alive with a 25-23, 25-22, 25-20 win over the fourth-seeded Wampus Cats in a loser-out match in the 2A District 1 tournament at Ron Miller Court.
Lakeside (7-7) will face the loser of Saturday’s semifinal between third-seeded Wallace and top-seeded Genesis Prep on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at North Idaho College.
Clark Fork finished 4-13.