Teams Come Back To Earth With Sandpoint Mortal Again, Iel Should Be Competitive; St. Maries Best Bet For State Gold

Thundering spikes. Stifling play at the net. Flawless ball control.

High school volleyball followers have grown accustomed to a high level of play over the years. But that’s about to change this fall.

That’s not to imply that volleyball in North Idaho will sink to a recreational, picnic level. But fans won’t see an Alli Nieman or Tiwi Bond, the dynamic hitting duo that led Sandpoint to back-to-back state championships.

The team with the best shot at capturing gold this season is St. Maries, which is coming off back-to-back runner-up State A-2 finishes after winning 10 consecutive championships.

Area teams opened their seasons this week. Here’s a look at the teams in the state’s four divisions and what it will take to qualify for state.

A-1

Graduation will bring Sandpoint back to the pack in the Inland Empire League.

In fact, put the names of all five IEL teams in a cup, shake it and pull out one at a time. You’ll have as good a chance at picking the order of finish as anyone.

Although Nieman and Bond have departed, Sandpoint coach Jeff Hurst’s goals haven’t changed.

“Most of our players have been overshadowed by last year’s seniors,” Hurst said. “They’re finally getting a chance to play. They’re hungry. They feel like they have something to prove.”

Ask Lewiston coach Laura Horton if one team is a favorite and she doesn’t hesitate to point the finger at her Bengals.

“We don’t lack confidence at all. If anyone is a favorite, it would be us,” she said.

Lake City returns the most experience; Coeur d’Alene features three of the top players in the league; and Post Falls, which finished in the cellar last year, returns one of its most athletic teams in recent history.

All of which means it should be a scramble to the finish.

The IEL will send one team to state from the Region I Tournament. The regional runner-up will move on to a playoff for a state berth.

State will be held Nov. 1-2 at Skyline High School in Idaho Falls.

A-2

Some believe that St. Maries’ tradition has carried a handful of Lumberjacks teams to success at state in the past decade.

It was probably most evident last year. Although coach Mitch Santos fielded his youngest team ever, the Lumberjacks pushed Preston to the limit before succumbing.

The Lumberjacks are a year older, and they’re ready to return to their customary place atop the A-2 heap.

At least two Intermountain League teams - Priest River and Kellogg - hope to challenge St. Maries.

“I think our league has become one of the toughest in the state,” Santos said. “If you come out of the Intermountain League, you’re ready for state.”

The IML will send two teams to state, which will be held Nov. 1-2 at Skyline High School in Idaho Falls.

A-3

Like Sandpoint, Wallace, the region’s lone A-3 team, was gutted by graduation.

Middle blocker Joy Sperry and outside hitter Dana Streeter are gone from a team that posted a 20-8 record and returned to state. Two years ago, Sperry and Streeter led the Miners to a state championship.

The bulk of the Miners are inexperienced as three freshmen will start.

As an independent, Wallace must qualify for state through the traditionally difficult District II Tournament. State will be held Nov. 1-2 at Bonneville High School in Idaho Falls.

A-4

The North Star League, not known for producing strong contenders at state, will be down this season.

The NSL welcomes three first-year coaches with the most notable change at Clark Fork, where longtime coach Sandy Ross stepped down and Mike Randles takes over.

Which team is the favorite? Flip a coin. If one team has an edge, it could be Lakeside.

The NSL sends one team to state, which will be held Nov. 1-2 at Bonneville High School in Idaho Falls. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo