Six North Idaho prep volleyball teams head to state

The Lake City volleyball team has had some nice feats under first-year coach Jenna Leggat.

The Timberwolves won the 5A Inland Empire League championship and followed it up with a regional title.

Now they’ll see if they can add some state tournament hardware to their cache.

Lake City (22-1) takes the best record to state, which begins Friday when the T-Wolves face Mountain View (11-8) at Skyline High in Idaho Falls.

All teams in each tournament will play two matches Friday and possibly three if they end up in the consolation bracket.

LC is taking a relatively young team to state. The T-Wolves are making their first trip since 2013. The last time LC captured a trophy was 2011 when it placed third.

Idaho Falls, the 2015 champ, did not qualify.

4A: Sandpoint is returning to state for the first time since 2014.

The Bulldogs (21-12) open against defending champ Century on Friday at Hillcrest High in Idaho Falls.

The last time Sandpoint earned a trophy was in 2009 when it took third.

3A: Timberlake qualified for state last year with a young team, and the Tigers return poised to improve on their 0-2 showing a year ago.

Timberlake (20-10) faces South Fremont (15-3) on Friday at Madison High in Rexburg.

The last time Timberlake earned a state trophy was when it placed third in 2005.

Bonners Ferry returns to state for the first time in two years. The Badgers meet perennial power Sugar-Salem.

The 2015 champ, Shelley, did not qualify.

2A: St. Maries is back for a second straight year.

The Lumberjacks (16-14) meet West Side on Friday at Idaho Falls High School.

St. Maries last captured a trophy when it was in 3A, taking second in 2010. The Lumberjacks moved down to 2A in 2012.

Defending state champ Malad returns.

1A Division II: Kootenai is making a third straight trip to state.

The Warriors (20-3) take on Dietrich on Friday at Bonneville High in Idaho Falls.

Richfield, the 2015 state champ, did not qualify.