Sandpoint takes Idaho 4A title

Make room in the trophy case.

The Sandpoint High volleyball team beat Bonneville twice to secure the State 4A championship, the Bulldogs’ fifth crown since 2000.

Sandpoint (29-2) dominated the tournament at Skyline High School in Idaho Falls, losing just three games in four matches. Bonneville (39-3) pushed hard in the semifinals, which Sandpoint won 25-22, 15-25, 26-24, 26-24. But Sandpoint won handily in the finals, 25-16, 20-25, 25-17, 25-9.

“That’s the perfect end to our season,” junior outside hitter Piper Wahlin said. “It couldn’t be any better.”

It was quite a turnaround from a year ago when the Bulldogs lost their state opener, then rallied through the losers’ bracket before falling to the Bees in the finale.

Sandpoint met Bonneville in the finals for the third straight year. Libero Abby Helander said losing to Bonneville last year helped motivate the Bulldogs through the season.

“Definitely,” Helander said. “That was not a good taste in our mouth after last year. It felt really good to take it back from them. They are a great team.”

Piper led the balanced offense with 26 kills in the two matches. Helander stands only 5-foot, but she seemed to be everywhere at once, racking up 59 digs on the day. Setter KoKo James came up big in the championship game with 12 kills and two blocks. She put down 20 kills in the two matches.

The title is the second of coach Karen Alsager’s four-year tenure at Sandpoint.

“Did that really happen?” Alsager asked after an emotional celebration. “Is it really over? I don’t think it’s going to feel like it’s over until we are on the bus and heading out of town.”

Bonneville has won three titles since 2000 under coach Chantal McMurtrey.

“Second always stinks, but obviously that was a really nice team on the other side of the net,” McMurtrey said. “You lose to good teams sometimes. Nothing you can do about it. Hopefully, the kids remember how this feels. Sandpoint felt that way last year, and that’s why they came back strong. We’re going to work twice as hard next year to get back here.”

For Sandpoint, the championship formula was top-to-bottom athleticism, talent and intangibles.

“This is the perfect team,” Helander said. “We have the most chemistry. We might not be the biggest team, obviously, but we all play with heart and passion, and that’s what gets us through.

The future looks bright for the Sandpoint program. Seniors Helander, setter Linnia Hawkins and middle blocker Adrianna Buckholtz will be missed, but the rest of the team returns.

“We’re losing three, but I’ve got the rest of them, and they were here,” Alsager said. “I like to bring them up young so they can feel what it’s like and be ready.”