State Volleyball
A-1
When: Friday and Saturday
Where: Sandpoint High School
First-round matches: Match 1: Skyline (31-5) vs. Skyview (15-12), 9 a.m.; M2: Coeur d’Alene (22-10) vs. Highland (32-3), 10:30; M3: Eagle (23-2) vs. Idaho Falls (25-8), noon; M4: Sandpoint (23-1) vs. Centennial (26-7), 1:30 p.m.
Defending champ: Bonneville (didn’t qualify) Favorites: Highland, Sandpoint, Skyline.
At a glance: The last time state was held at Sandpoint (1984), the host team won.
Sandpoint hasn’t won a state title since 1995. The Bulldogs will be difficult to beat at home.
Highland was runner-up last year. In 1997, Highland came back through the consolation bracket to beat Sandpoint twice for the state title.
Coeur d’Alene returns to state for first time since 1996. The Vikings, which will field one of the tallest teams at state, have a legitimate chance at earning a trophy.
CdA coach Karla Mitchell believes state is coming at the right time for her team. “We’re just starting to get it together. They’re anxious to go to state.”
“This is the best team I’ve seen in Sandpoint in all my years,” said six-year Lake City coach Kent Scanlon, who also was head coach at CdA for nine years.
Throw in the home-court advantage and Scanlon sees a golden finish for the Bulldogs.
“The script is written in favor of Sandpoint,” he said.
Sandpoint has won eight state titles, the most of any A-1 team.
A-2
When: Friday and Saturday
Where: Sandpoint Middle School
First-round matches: Match 1: Bear Lake (35-3) vs. Middleton (12-8), 9 a.m.; M2: St. Maries (25-3) vs. Sugar-Salem (30-4), 10:30; M3: Weiser (22-1) vs. Preston (17-8), noon; M4: Lakeland (16-10) vs. Wendell (11-6), 1:30 p.m.
Defending champ: Bear Lake
Favorites: Bear Lake, St. Maries, Weiser
At a glance: The last time state was held at Sandpoint, St. Maries won. It was the beginning of 10 straight titles. The Lumberjacks haven’t won since their streak ended in 1993.
Bear Lake is seeking a third straight title.
Preston, a traditional qualifier like St. Maries, is tickled to be at state. The Indians graduated eight seniors and all their starters last year.
Bear Lake beat A-1 qualifiers Highland, Idaho Falls, Eagle and Centennial.
Bear Lake returns four of six starters. “They’re as good or maybe even better than last year,” said Preston coach Launa Moser, whose team finished runner-up in league to Bear Lake.
St. Maries has won 11 state titles, Preston four and Bear Lake two.
A-3
When: Friday and Saturday
Where: Lewiston High School
First-round matches: Match 1: Nampa Christian (16-0) vs. Valley (15-7), 9 a.m.; M2: Firth (23-12) vs. Prairie (29-4), 10:30; M3: West Side (30-7) vs. Homedale (20-7), noon; M4: Wallace (20-7) vs. Ririe (22-12), 1:30 p.m.
Defending champ: West Side
Favorites: West Side, Nampa Christian, Prairie
At a glance: Wallace is making its first trip to state since 1995.
If Wallace wins its opener, it would likely meet West Side in the second round. If the Miners end up in the consolation side of the bracket, it wouldn’t be unfamiliar territory. They fought back through the back side at district, winning three elimination matches to earn a state berth.
Wallace won a state title in 1994. West Side, Firth and Wallace are the only teams in the field that have won state championships.
A-4
When: Thursday-Saturday
Where: Lewiston High School and Lewis Clark State College
Pool matches: Top two teams in each pool advance to double-elimination play Friday.
At Lewiston High School - Pool A: Murtaugh (16-6) vs. Greenleaf Friends (16-6), 11 a.m.; Deary (16-7) vs. Rimrock (15-7), 12:30 p.m.; Murtaugh vs. Deary, 2; Greenleaf Friends vs. Rimrock, 3:30; Murtaugh vs. Rimrock, 6; Deary vs. Greenleaf Friends, 7:30.
Pool B: Troy (16-3) vs. Carey (20-5), 11 a.m.; Mullan (10-8) vs. Midvale (16-2), 12:30 p.m.; Troy vs. Mullan, 2; Carey vs. Midvale, 3:30; Troy vs. Midvale, 6; Mullan vs. Carey, 7:30.
At Lewis Clark State College - Pool C: Rockland (18-9) vs. Cambridge (21-5), 11 a.m.; Camas County (17-7) vs. Notus (20-5), 12:30 p.m.; Rockland vs. Camas County, 2; Cambridge vs. Notus, 3:30; Rockland vs. Notus, 6; Cambridge vs. Camas County, 7:30.
Pool D: Clark Fork (25-1) vs. Genesee (22-5), 11 a.m.; Mackay (19-11) vs. Hagerman (13-14), 12:30 p.m.; Clark Fork vs. Mackay, 2; Genesee vs. Hagerman, 3:30; Clark Fork vs. Hagerman, 6; Genesee vs. Mackay, 7:30.
Defending champ: Troy
Favorites: Cambridge, Clark Fork, Midvale, Troy
At a glance: Mullan is making its first trip to state since 1985. Coach Dawn McKinnon was a senior on the last qualifier. “So this has been long overdue,” McKinnon said.
Troy will be seeking a fifth straight championship. But Clark Fork, Cambridge and Midvale figure to mount stiff challenges.
Cambridge is making its 19th straight trip to state and has won three state titles in coach Terry Walker’s 10 years.
Troy and Cambridge have won the most state titles (five).
General information
Second-round matches Friday at all tourneys: M5: M1 winner vs. M2 winner, 4; M6: M1 loser vs. M2 loser (loser out), 5:45; M7: M3 winner vs. M4 winner, 7:15; M8: M3 loser vs. M4 loser (loser out), 8:45.
Saturday schedule at all tourneys: Match 9: M6 winner vs. M7 loser (loser out), 10 a.m.; M10: M8 winner vs. M5 loser (loser out), 11:30; M11: M5 winner vs. M7 winner, 1 p.m.; M12: M9 winner vs. M10 winner (loser out), 3:30; M13: M11 loser vs. M12 winner (loser out), 5; M14: First championship match, M11 winner vs. M13 winner, 6:30; M15: If necessary, 8.
Admission (at all tourneys): Tournament pass, $15; discount pass (senior citizens, students in grades 1-6 and students in grades 7-12 with an activity card), $10; general admission per session, $5; discount admission per session, $4; children under 6 admitted free.