Trojans sweep to state berth

The Post Falls volleyball team was determined not to have another meltdown similar to what occurred four days earlier.

The Trojans found themselves trailing 11-2 in the third game against Lake City after winning the first two. Unlike what happened against Lewiston in the 5A Region I championship match Tuesday, Post Falls pulled out of a funk and earned a state berth 25-13, 25-17, 25-20 Saturday at The Arena.

Post Falls (26-8) captured its first state berth since 1991. The Trojans will take on District III third-place team Centennial (27-8) Friday when the state tourney unfolds at Lake City.

“We followed through, we executed,” PF senior middle hitter Andrea Mohney said. “We had a lot of guts this game and we weren’t afraid to swing.”

•5A Region I: The Trojans tightened up against Lewiston and never unwound. Against LC, they returned to the level of play that earned them relatively easy wins in the first two games.

When senior setter/hitter Jalana White served an ace to tie the third game at 15-15, Post Falls coach Willow Hanna, who stands shorter than any of her players at 5-foot-2, jumped off the bench in celebration.

“We started off the third (game) a little reminiscent of the other day,” Hanna said. “When they were coming back, it was exciting and I certainly wanted to do my part to make sure that we were going to keep pushing forward.”

The Trojans certainly looked much like the team that went through 5A Inland Empire League play undefeated in the first two games. They opened a big lead in the first game behind Mohney, who had three aces. She finished with a match-high four to go along with eight kills and three blocks.

PF opened a 13-3 lead in the second game in which Mohney had six of her eight kills, including a kill on game point.

LC showed life to open the third game, building a 5-0 lead and extending it to 11-2 before the Trojans righted themselves. White, who along with sophomore setter/hitter Tori Bertsch matched Mohney’s eight kills, had a kill on match point.

Hanna thought it was critical for state that her team pulled out the third game.

“It says a lot about our team to be able to handle the pressure,” she said. “We didn’t handle it very well on Tuesday.”

LC (13-16) came a long way in its first season under coach Bret Taylor. He took over a team that didn’t have a returning setter, and he switched senior Hilary Ayers, a two-year starter at outside hitter, to setter.

•3A District I-II: Perennial power St. Maries captured another district title, sweeping Priest River 25-17, 25-21, 25-16 in the title match at Lakeland High School.

St. Maries (21-3) advances to state, beginning Friday at Coeur d’Alene. The Lumberjacks will take on District IV runner-up Filer.

Priest River (11-11) bounced back to earn a state berth with a 25-12, 25-23, 25-20 win over Timberlake.

St. Maries, which starts two freshmen and two sophomores, played older than its collective age in the title match. The Lumberjacks were especially effective getting touches on Priest River’s two top hitters, Taylor Stewart and Melissa Hopkins. Stewart still finished with a match-high 16 kills, but she had to work for them.

Lumberjacks sophomore Marlee Masterson had a team-high 13 kills. Senior Bree Arrhenius had five kills and 10 digs. Freshman Mariah Gladden had eight blocks.

“We have a young team this year, but what you probably saw is we don’t have two star players, we have six players out there who contribute every single game,” St. Maries coach Missy Asbury said.

St. Maries advanced to the district final with a 25-10, 25-15, 25-21 win over Timberlake. Priest River earned a spot in the title match with a 25-14, 25-15, 25-18 decision over Kellogg.

•4A Region I: Sandpoint defeated Moscow twice to capture the lone state berth.

The Bulldogs (22-4) defeated Moscow 25-14, 26-24, 25-23 in the morning and came back in the title match for a 25-17, 25-22, 25-15 decision at Sandpoint.

Sandpoint advances to state, beginning Friday at Post Falls. The Bulldogs open against Hillcrest (22-19).

Piper Wahlin led Sandpoint with 25 kills combined.

•1A Division I play-in: Lapwai defeated Lakeside 25-21, 27-25, 25-21 to earn a state berth.

•1A Division II play-in: Clark Fork swept Mullan 3-0 to earn a state berth.