State volleyball tournaments: The adversity that made Lakeland stronger

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

Ziya Munyer went up for a jump-serve at practice on Sept. 13. 

And when she came down, she thought her season was over. 

“When I landed, my knee totally gave out on me,” recalled Munyer, the 6-foot-1 senior standout middle blocker for the Lakeland Hawks. “And I was distraught.” 

“Initially, everyone kind of gasped a little bit,” Lakeland coach Kelsie Badger said. 

The eventual results of the MRI showed a slight tear of the patella tendon in Munyer’s right knee, and a possible micro tear of her meniscus. 

Also, the injury didn’t require surgery, and the head coach at Weber State, where Munyer has verbally committed, gave his blessing for her to continue playing when ready. 

Munyer missed a tournament the following day at Freeman High in Rockford, Wash., and missed three matches and two other tournaments (one at Rocky Mountain High, the other the Sheridan-Welch Crossover Classic in Spokane before returning Oct. 8. 

Since then, Lakeland (21-11) has lost just once, and is back to its overpowering self as the Hawks enter this week’s state 5A volleyball tournament at the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls as the No. 1 seed. 

Lakeland opens Thursday at 4 p.m. PDT against eighth-seeded Twin Falls (16-15). 

A funny thing happened to the Hawks while Munyer was sidelined with her injury. 

“We pulled up some freshmen, and I truly believe that we got better,” said Badger, in her seventh season as Lakeland coach, “because we focused on teamwork and what we could do as a team, instead of solely relying on the amazing things that Ziya is capable of.”

TRUTH BE told, the Hawks were still a really good team without Munyer. 

They had other strong hitters in senior Landree Simon and Lexi Levesque, junior Alyssa Ryckman and sophomore Raygen Dutton. 

Asked who stepped up in particular in Munyer’s absence, Badger replied: 

“Landree, 100 percent. She really showed how strong of a player she was, playing all the way around. Her back row got better; it was lights-out most of the time.” 

“I think we all stepped up as a team,” Simon deferred, “just coming together as a team as one, and playing together. And when she came back, being an even bigger and better team.” 

Plus, they were already solid at setter with senior Olivia Zazuetta, and at libero with senior Addy Jo Hocking. 

“I thought the rest of our team had to step up and fill in, and I think the girls that did step up really did their part to fill her shoes,” Zazuetta said. “And then when she came back it was a big relief for a lot of us, because we knew we could compete at a higher level with our block and with our hitting.” 

“I was thinking about districts, and how tough it would be,” Hocking said. “But I was also thinking that our team can do it, and we can face adversity and win.” 

THIS YEAR’S five seniors were in the eighth grade in the fall of 2020 when Lakeland, led by current Washington State standout Katy Ryan, won the program’s first (and only) state title.  

“It was so cool, going to play on varsity from a state championship team that was returning,” recalled Simon, whose sister, Kenna, was a sophomore on that state title team. “Definitely if they could do it, we could do it too, if we push, and work hard in practice every day, and really want it.” 

Zazuetta went to school in Post Falls before transferring to Lakeland as a freshman. 

“We had a really good JV team with the majority of the seniors right now,” Zazuetta said. “Just knowing that we could grow up together and be able to play together, and hopefully have our chance, like they did.” 

Added Munyer:  

“I remember watching that team and recognizing how special it was, and the bond that they had, and knowing that one day that we could implement that. Because when we were freshmen we all had been playing together for a long time, and we’ve been able to create that special bond, and I think this is our year.” 

Hocking was at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy as an eighth grader, then transferred to Lakeland her freshman year. 

Levesque was aware of the 2020 team as an eighth grader, “but at that point I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue playing volleyball,” she said, then decided to keep playing. “I just wanted to stay athletic, stay in shape, might as well try one more year and see if I like it, and I got on C team, and I pushed through, and now we’re here. And I’m glad I stuck with it.” 

Since 2020, Lakeland was upset at home at regionals in 2021 and ‘22 and missed out on state both years. The Hawks made it back to state last year, finishing fourth.  

IN 2020, the Hawks were considered a contender, but not necessarily a favorite, to win the state title. 

This year, Lakeland is the tourney’s No. 1 seed according to MaxPreps, whose rankings are used to seed state tourneys in most Idaho team sports. 

“I truly believe that this team can do it,” Badger said. “They have it in them. Obviously Rocky Mountain (where the Hawks lost all five matches) wasn’t a great tournament for us; we had some things that didn’t go our way, but we got to play some really good competition, and it really showed what this team can be, and then adding Ziya back into the mix, really is a great, positive thing for us.” 

“I just think we need to play our game and not fall into what other teams are doing, and that’ll lead us to where we’re supposed to be,” Zazuetta said. 

“I think we’re in a great position, and we have a lot of momentum going in,” Munyer said. “So our mindset is just taking it one game at a time, and since we are senior heavy, the fight is definitely going to be there, just like it was tonight (Saturday night, when Lakeland swept Lewiston to win the regional title).” 

“We’re ready to go out with a fight,” Levesque said. “It’s our last year, we’ve got to leave it all on the court, and tonight (Saturday night) showed that we still want it. We want that state championship.” 

As for that dogpile after the Hawks won on Saturday night — that wasn’t the plan. A couple of players planned to celebrate by sliding on their knees, like soccer players do after scoring a goal. 

“Landree, I was going to pick her up and spin her around,” Munyer said. “And someone came in and hit my leg, and so I fell ... and it was like dominoes.” 

Well, maybe the Hawks will get another chance at it in a few days. 

    MARK NELKE/Press Lakeland senior Ziya Munyer hits against Lewiston on Saturday night in the 5A Region 1 volleyball championship match in Rathdrum.