State A-1/A-2 Volleyball
Tournament quick facts
Where: Lake City High School
When: Friday and Saturday
Admission: Tournament pass $15, discount pass $10 (for senior citizens and students with activity cards). General admission per session $5, discount admission $4.
A-1 pairings: Match 1 - Hillcrest vs. Centennial, 10 a.m. M2 - Boise vs. Nampa, 11:30. M3 - Twin Falls vs. Capital, 1 p.m. M4 - Sandpoint vs. Bonneville, 2:30.
A-2 pairings: M1 - Emmett vs. Snake River, 10 a.m. M2 - Preston vs. Lakeland, 11:30. M3 - Wood River vs. Shelley, 1 p.m. M4 - St. Maries vs. Weiser, 2:30.
Second-round pairings: M5 - winners of M1 and M2, 4:30. M6 - losers of M1 and M2 (loser out), 6:15. M7 - winners of M3 and M4, 7:45. M8 - losers of M3 and M4, 9:15.
Saturday: Consolation matches begin at 10 a.m. Championship semifinal, 1 p.m. Third-place match, 5; Championship match, 6:30. If necessary match, 8.
A-1
Sandpoint Bulldogs
Record: 22-0
Coach: Jeff Hurst
Road to state: Region I champion
Top players: Alli Nieman, 6-1, senior, middle hitter; Tiwi Bond, 6-0, sr., mh; Stacey Moline, 5-9, sr., setter.
Coach’s comment: “I think we go to state as a better team as we did last year. We’re going to state to win.”
At a glance: The Bulldogs were virtually untested during the season. Nieman, considered one of the top players in the state, if not the best, wants a second straight state title after runner-up finishes as a sophomore and freshman. It’ll take an outstanding effort to dethrone the Bulldogs, who possess more offensive options this season than a year ago. The Bulldogs stretch teams’ defenses horizontally and vertically.
Hillcrest Knights
Record: 34-5
Coach: Jeff Craven
Road to state: District VI champion
Top players: Krista Charles, 5-8, sr., setter; Letti Almond, 5-10, sr., mh; Brooke Fuller, 5-10, sr., oh
Coach’s comment: “I don’t mind being the underdog this year. (Going to state undefeated last year) put a big target on our backs. They felt a lot of pressure last year - almost like if you didn’t win it would ruin the season.”
At a glance: A likely state final could be a rematch of last year’s title match - Hillcrest vs. Sandpoint. If there’s a team that can knock off Sandpoint it would be Hillcrest. The Knights haven’t lost a league match in two years.
Nampa Bulldogs
Record: 18-11
Coach: Linda Roberts
Road to state: Finished fourth at district; defeated Coeur d’Alene in cross-district playoff for state berth.
Top players: Lynsay Lampman, 5-10, sr., mh; Abby Markus, 5-11, sr., oh; Mary Jo Rannells, 5-9, sr., oh.
Coach’s comment: “Most of the teams at state are familiar with state including our team. We’re optimistic about playing Boise. We’ve had real competitive matches with Boise.”
At a glance: Longtime coach Roberts returned as head coach this season after taking maternity leave last year. Boise, Capital and Centennial all defeated Nampa regularly during the season, so the Bulldogs don’t appear to be a serious contender at state.
Centennial Patriots
Record: 13-4
Coach: Steve Bartlett
Road to state: District III third-place finisher
Top players: Kristin Friend, 5-10, sr., oh; Sarah Search, 5-9, sr., setter.
Coach’s comment: “It’s been a full-team effort this year. We don’t have a 6-foot-2 go-to girl like some teams have. We’ve had some tough matches with Boise and Capital. Having four teams from our area at state shows we play good volleyball.”
At a glance: Bartlett is in his first year at Centennial, which won a state title two years ago when the tournament was held at Post Falls. He was an assistant at Capital last year. Pats will find out how good they are right away with a tough opener against Hillcrest.
Boise Braves
Record: 23-9
Coach: Sandy Stewart
Road to state: District III champ
Top players: Jenny Calderwood, 5-8, sr., oh; Suzy Goss, 5-10, sr., setter; Barb Brazier, 6-0 sr., mh.
Coach’s comment: “It looks like a strong field. We started off the season real hot (11-0) and went through sort of a slump. But we’ve gotten back to what we were doing early in the season and doing it better.”
At a glance: Boise came back through the loser’s bracket to defeat Capital twice and capture a district championship. It’ll be a Southern Idaho Conference showdown between Boise and Nampa in the teams’ opening-round match. Boise is 3-0 against Nampa this season.
Capital Eagles
Record: 10-5
Coach: Sharon Leonhardt
Road to state: District III runner-up
Top players: Cori Freeman 6-1 sr., mb; Jenny McKnight 5-7 sr., setter; Jenny Smethers 6-1 sr., mb.
Coach’s comment: “I like our team’s tenacity. They never quit. If they play mentally tough we can contend for a state title.”
At a glance: Capital was rolling along at district until it met up against with Boise. The Eagles were defeated in back-to-back matches to finish second. Of the four Boise-area teams at state, Capital features the tallest attack - especially in the middle. Also, Capital may be the lone District III team that takes a trophy home.
Bonneville Bees
Record: 35-8
Coach: Dave Albiston
Road to state: Finished runner-up to Hillcrest but won cross-district playoff against Highland for state berth
Top players: Lisa Steinmetz, 5-8, sr., oh; Kristen Holcomb, 5-10, sr., oh; Tara Hawkins, 5-4, sr., setter; Anna Passey, 5-9, sr., mh.
Coach’s comment: “We look forward to the challenge of Sandpoint (Bonneville’s first-round match). We think we can give them all they want. We should be a good test for them. It doesn’t bother us that they’re undefeated.”
At a glance: Bonneville has the toughest draw in meeting the defending champion. Albiston admits his team probably won’t match up well with the Bulldogs. “They may not see us run the ball much in the middle,” he said, laughing. “The thing about state is nice teams can get upset. I believe in my seniors. I like our chances.”
Twin Falls Bruins
Record: 24-7
Coach: Mike Federico
Road to state: District IV-V champion
Top players: Barb Haganah, 5-6, sr., setter; Tiffany Kitley, 6-0, sr., mh, transfer from Michigan who played in Junior Olympic Festival; Tina Westberg, 5-10, sr., mh.
Coach’s comment: “Going into the season I don’t think we were expected to do a lot. Then Kitley moved in. We’ve really come a long way as far as early season predictions. If we’re on I think we have a chance to do well. We’re really an up and down team.”
At a glance: Twin Falls has qualified for state before but hasn’t had much success. The Bruins won a first-round match last year before being eliminated. Kitley gives Bruins a legitimate chance to stay around longer than usual. But if the Bruins win their opening-round match it’s likely they’ll face Sandpoint. That could mean a prompt trip to the loser’s bracket.
A-2
Preston Indians
Record: 29-13
Coach: Launa Moser
Road to state: District V champion; won state championship last year, halting St. Maries’ streak of 10 straight championships
Top players:Jamie Jensen, 5-3, sr., defensive specialist; Miriam Carter, 5-9, sr., oh; Dana Olson, 5-10, sr., oh.
Coach’s comment:”Basically, we started from scratch this year.” Twelve of the team’s 13 losses came during the first half of the season. “We’re the defending state champion, but that team that won is gone. I don’t think there’s any pressure going to state … it’s a whole new team.”
At a glance: Preston, which returned Jensen as its lone starter, owns regular-season wins over Shelley, Snake River and Wood River. Since 1981, the state champion has resided in either St. Maries (1982, 1984-1993) or Preston (1981, 1983, 1994).
St. Maries Lumberjacks
Record: 22-4
Coach:Mitch Santos
Road to state: District I-II champion
Top players: Angie Epler, 5-3, sr., back row specialist; Amanda Tams, 5-10, sr., mh; Kim Reid, 5-10, sophomore, oh; Bridgette O’Dwyer, 5-9, soph., oh.
Coach’s comment: St. Maries did an about-face with personnel. Back row player Devon Hammes is one of three returners, including Epler and Tams, but the only one playing the same position. “I don’t think you’ll find one seasoned, veteran team (at state unlike other years).”
At a glance: Santos wouldn’t be surprised to meet Preston. The two teams have battled for state titles the past 14 years. “When you’ve played Preston as many times as we have - you’ve been behind the 8-ball, you’ve been the dominant team. We’ve met them just about every single way.”
Wood River Wolverines
Record:31-8
Coach: Reamy Goodwin
Road to state: District IV champion
Top players: Summer Williams, 5-2, soph., setter; Summer Hanson, 5-8, jr., oh; Kristyn Price, 5-8, freshman, mh
Coach’s comment:”Our most redeeming quality is our spread of offense. We do a lot of stuff in the middle to keep other people’s middle blockers honest.”
At a glance: The play of Price has boosted the Wolverines, who join Preston and St. Maries as the only returners at state. “I don’t know what St. Maries has, but potentially I see playing them in the second round. I feel like we can compete.”
Snake River Panthers
Record: 24-13
Coach: Shauna Matthews
Road to state: Won cross-district playoff against Sugar-Salem to advance to state
Top players: Hillarie Hone, 5-5, sr., oh; Teasha Ellis, 5-4, sr., setter; Jan Bair, 5-7, soph., oh.
Coach’s comment: Five seniors and four sophomores form the Panthers’ nucleus. “This is the tallest team I’ve had in a long time. They’re playing really smart.”
At a glance: It’s been 19 years since the Panthers won Idaho’s first-ever volleyball tournament before classifications were established, and they haven’t returned until now. Snake River took the first game of the district final from Preston. “We just ran out of gas, that was our third match and their first one. It gives the kids a lot of confidence.”
Lakeland Hawks
Record: 12-12
Coach: Claudia Collins
Road to state: District I-II runner-up
Top players: Cora Christensen, 5-9, sr., mh; Jenni Borg, 5-9, sr., oh; Amber Jamison, 5-10, jr., oh.
Coach’s comment: “We’re getting better defensively. We’ve been working on that considerably toward the last half of the season, especially our movement.”
At a glance: A coin toss gave the Hawks the No. 6 seed in the six-team district tournament, and the Hawks took the long route to state. The Hawks’ offense is set by Beyer, a freshman. “We’ve had some good matches with St. Maries, so that gives us a lot of confidence going into (state). We finished real strong, and we hope to continue.”
Shelley Russets
Record: 23-2
Coach: Judy Smith
Road to state: District VI champion
Top players: Holly Foster, 5-8, soph., setter; Melissa Jensen, 5-11, soph., mh; Lindsay Jensen, 5-8, sr., oh; Melanie McCabe, 6-0, sr., oh.
Coach’s comment: “We’ve got some good height, and we’ve got some good defensive people. Our strength, basically, is our front row if we can get up and get some blocks.”
At a glance: Five of the Russets were members of the 1995 state championship basketball team. Shelley’s two losses came early to Snake River and Preston. “We didn’t look good against Preston. The day we played them, I’m not sure exactly what happened … I would really like that match back. I hope we have an opportunity to play them.”
Emmett Huskies
Record:18-4
Coach: Karen Alsager
Road to state: District III champion; Emmett’s first championship of any kind
Top players: Sarah Stanley, 6-0, jr., mb; Lizzie Stoeger, 5-11, jr., oh; Dana Fuhrmann, 5-7, jr., setter.
Coach’s comment: “In our league, we’re the best blocking and best hitting team. We’re not the best defensive team, but that part of our game is improving slowly. Our blocking shuts down a lot of offenses.”
At a glance: The Huskies had never qualified for state until this season. “In the town of Emmett all the teams got first place, from seventh grade to varsity.” Alsager, who is on maternity leave, hosted a team overnighter to celebrate Emmett’s district title. Part of the fun included toilet-papering a few select homes.
Weiser Wolverines
Record:16-4
Coach:Tanya Crawford
Road to state: District III runner-up
Top players: Anna Slade, 5-11, sr., mb; Becky Davies, 5-8, sr., mb; Ellen Roberts, 5-8, jr., oh.
Coach’s comment: “I think this is a real strong team. We’ve got some younger players, but they’ve been playing together for a long time in one way or another whether it be school or club.”
At a glance: Crawford is familiar with first-round draw St. Maries. “We have nothing to lose. We have a goal of placing well at state. To do that you have to beat the tough teams.”