Cda Tops Sandpoint, Wins Volleyball Tourney
In an all-Inland Empire League volleyball showdown, Coeur d’Alene showed why it is leading conference play at the midway point of the season.
The Vikings, behind the usual stellar net play of 6-foot-2 Angie Shirley and the steady setting of Kimi Towery, surged past defending State A-1 champion Sandpoint 15-9, 15-9 in the Spike & Dig Tournament championship match Saturday evening at Lake City High School.
Coeur d’Alene won five times to push its overall mark to 15-1 and extend its winning streak to nine. The Viks’ lone loss was in the finals of the Clarkston Tournament. Sandpoint moved to 11-6.
Sandpoint thwarted an all-Coeur d’Alene final when the Bulldogs rallied to defeat Lake City 16-14. Championship-bracket matches consisted of single games until the final. CdA bolted to a 10-0 lead against Kellogg before advancing to the title match with a 15-9 win.
Lake City (8-6) finished third. Colville took fourth and Kellogg (12-4) was fifth.
The 12-team tournament featured all Intermountain League teams except powerhouse St. Maries, all IEL teams and two Washington teams, Colville and East Valley.
Shirley was an easy selection as the tournament’s most valuable player. Joining her on the all-tourney team were Towery, middle blocker Lindsay Herbert of LC, middle blocker Janelle Ruen of Post Falls, outside hitter Brianna Martin of Lewiston, outside hitter Amber Jameson of Lakeland and outside hitter Mandy Ringhand of Sandpoint.
Shirley had six kills and five blocks in the title match.
CdA opened a 10-3 lead in the first game, then extended the advantage to 14-5. But Sandpoint, which received fine play from Ringhand and freshman outside hitter Jessica Lippi, momentarily stalled the Viks’ momentum.
Sandpoint pulled within five at 14-9 before CdA scored game point on a Bulldog hitting error.
The Bulldogs ran off six straight points to open the second game. But CdA pecked away, eventually tying the score at 6.
A hitting error by Ringhand gave CdA its first lead at 9-8. After a 9-all tie, the Viks ran off the final six points with Bre Pelsma behind the service line. A soft angle kill by Jessica Janke, two impressive stuff blocks by Shirley and two Sandpoint errors provided the winning margin.
After falling behind in the second game, CdA coach Karla Mitchell called timeout.
“I told them that we needed to do the things that we know to do,” Mitchell said. “We need to play our own positions. I think sometimes we try to over-anticipate and get out of our defensive positions. Most of all they just needed to believe that they’re the team that’s supposed to win.”
, DataTimes