STATE 3A VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT: Historic run ends with hardware for Wildcats
The Kellogg Wildcats earned their program's first trophy in state history after securing third place in the 3A State Tournament at Lewiston High School. Pictured from the left (back row) are Coach Hollie Yrjana, Hadley Bush, Bella Schilleriff, Laine Smith, Maddy Furlin, Gretah Angle, Valynn Visintainer, Addie Sawyer, Kendal Allen, Kinlee Scribner, and Coaches Grace Nearing and Kevin Yrjana. In front are Aleah Philp, Paige Yrjana, Jordyn Stutzke, and Ella Yrjana.
JOSH McDONALD
Kellogg junior Hadley Bush notches a kill during the Wildcats' loss to Nampa Christian on Saturday at the 3A State Tournament.
JOSH McDONALD
LEWISTON — Despite a pair of losses on the final day of the state 3A tournament, the Kellogg Wildcats accomplished something no previous team in program history had done, returning home with a state trophy after a third-place finish at Lewiston High School.
The second-seeded Wildcats opened the day in the semifinals against fifth-seeded Nampa Christian and ran into the powerful right arm of Trojan senior Avery Reece. Behind Reece's play, Nampa Christian earned a four-set victory, 25-20, 25-15, 20-25, 25-15, sending Kellogg into the third-place match.
There was little time for the Wildcats to regroup. With just over an hour between matches, Kellogg was back on the court facing tournament favorite Ambrose of Meridian.
The Archers proved too much to overcome, claiming a straight-set victory, 25-12, 25-13, 25-18, to close out the Wildcats' season at 20-3.
Throughout both matches, sophomore Gretah Angle and junior Ella Yrjana helped shoulder the offensive load for Kellogg. Meanwhile, seniors Paige Yrjana and Jordyn Stutzke were tasked with extending rallies and keeping points alive against two opponents that consistently attacked from the front row.
Kellogg head coach Hollie Yrjana also praised junior Hadley Bush, who led the team in blocks during the season and throughout the tournament.
No statistics were available.
For Hollie Yrjana, in the second year of her second stint as Kellogg head coach, the weekend represented a significant step forward for the program. A year ago, Kellogg entered the tournament as one of its top seeds but was eliminated before the final day of competition. This season, the Wildcats broke through to the semifinals and guaranteed themselves a trophy.
"I'm beyond proud of our team," coach Yrjana said. "We were outsized in every match but didn't let that stop us. We went in with a game plan to play our style of volleyball: Fast tempo, finding holes, serving tough, and outworking the other side. We don't get to see this level of competition very often, so to get third against big teams who see high-level play all year is a great accomplishment."
Both Nampa Christian and Ambrose are Boise-area private schools. After falling to Nampa Christian on Friday, Ambrose fought its way through the loser's bracket by eliminating both Malad and Kellogg before defeating the Trojans twice to capture its second consecutive state 3A championship.
The Wildcats' future also appears bright. Kellogg will lose just two players to graduation and returns a core that helped produce one of the most successful seasons in program history. Combined with a talented incoming class, the Wildcats figure to remain among the Central Idaho League's top contenders.
For now, however, Yrjana is focused less on what lies ahead and more on appreciating what her team accomplished.
"Our girls played as a team and made needed adjustments against larger front lines," Yrjana said. "I'm just really proud."
Kellogg junior Hadley Bush notches a kill during the Wildcats' loss to Nampa Christian on Saturday at the 3A State Tournament.