Could It Be Title Time Again? At Least Three Area Programs Hope So As Volleyball Season Begins

For a region once considered the hotbed of state championship volleyball teams, North Idaho has witnessed a drought in recent years.

It’s been four years since Sandpoint, once the power among A-1 teams, captured gold.

It’s been six years since St. Maries, once the darling of the A-2 ranks, has claimed a title.

No North Star League team has raised a state title banner since the inception of the A-4 tourney in 1981.

The drought could end this fall.

Count Sandpoint, St. Maries and Clark Fork among serious challengers for gold.

If they go all the way, it’ll happen close to home. Sandpoint is the site of the A-1 and A-2 tournaments, Lewiston the site of the A-3 and A-4 tournaments.

Sandpoint thought it would be defending a state title, not challenging for one at home this year. The Bulldogs breezed through the regular season last fall, posting a 27-0 record before stumbling to third at state.

“We have the same goal this year, but this time with no presumption,” Sandpoint coach Jeff Hurst said. “We don’t want to shoot ourselves in the foot. We still have to go out and play.”

Sandpoint’s title hopes were dealt a serious blow well before the season started. The Bulldogs, who return three starters and two key reserves, lost two-year starting setter Jessica Lippi for the season.

A senior, Lippi’s career could be over. A starter as a freshman at outside hitter before switching positions, Lippi discovered in January that she has several fractured or cracked vertebrae.

Lippi, who was named most valuable player at the Walla Walla Tournament last year and was the Inland Empire League’s MVP, would have been an NCAA Division I recruit, Hurst said.

Junior Rochelle Ruen, a starter at middle blocker for two years, takes over for Lippi. Ruen switched to setter during the club season.

Hurst would have kept Ruen at middle, but decided to switch her with the addition of senior middle blocker Kendrea Meyer (5-foot-10), a transfer from Vancouver, Wash. Meyer is being recruited by several NCAA Division I schools including power Long Beach State.

“We’ll definitely have a different style,” Hurst said. “We won’t know the full impact until we start playing.”