When St. Maries senior setter Jaylee Sines tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee, as well as both her meniscuses during basketball season last year, volleyball was the furthest thing from her mind.

Sines not only returned, but has been a key cog in the Lumberjacks making a sixth straight appearance in the state tournament.

"I knew I'd play at some point this season," Sines said. "But it wasn't easy getting back."

Sines was unable to do any physical activity or run for two months following the injury, and was only released to resume athletics on the first day of practice at St. Maries.

St. Maries (24-8) will face Sugar-Salem in the opening match of the state 3A tournament at 8 a.m. on Friday at Lake City High. St. Maries finished second to Snake River last year, a team the Lumberjacks could meet again in the semifinals with an opening-round win.

"Obviously, we've got to start strong like we did today," St. Maries coach Missy Asbury said last Saturday, after St. Maries won the 3A District 1 tournament. "We've got to be on our game right away."

For Sines, a three-year starter and an all-Intermountain League selection this year, "the district win was a big step for us. Honestly, I didn't think I'd play this season at first, but made my way back," she said.

Sines still wears a protective knee brace on her left leg, but is ready to close out her Lumberjack career with a strong showing.

“It’s pretty exciting for us seniors,” Sines said. “This is our last year in 3A and for the seniors, our final year as a group. We’re looking to go out with a bang.”

“With hers being the most important role on the team, I was surprised with how quickly she got back,” said Asbury, who is also Jaylee’s aunt. “She’s still a little slow on defense, but really just picked up from where she left off. I knew she was a fighter and wanted to get back out on the court, so I was never worried she’d miss the season.”

Priest River, which lost to St. Maries in the district title match, rallied to beat Kellogg in four games to earn the second bid to state out of the Intermountain League and will face Fruitland in the first round Friday at 1 p.m.

“It’s great that it’s local this year,” Priest River coach Kati Bodecker said. “This is exactly where we saw ourselves at the start of the season. We really want to bring home some hardware from the state tournament because we haven’t done that yet. We’re really looking forward to doing that this year.”

Priest River went 1-2 in its last state appearance in 2009, held at Coeur d’Alene High.