PREP VOLLEYBALL: Post Falls, Wallace win state play-ins, on to state

GRANGEVILLE — They had to take a longer road than in the past two seasons, but the Post Falls Trojans are back in the state volleyball tournament for a third straight year.

Junior Vanessa Kison had 14 kills and 10 digs as Post Falls beat the Middleton Vikings 25-18, 25-23, 26-24 in a state 5A play-in match Saturday at Grangeville High.

“I’m proud of our grit,” Post Falls coach Willow Hanna said. “We have stayed focused on each match, one at a time, not focusing on final results. We have worked really hard in practice to prepare for each of our opponents and it has paid off. It’s an accomplishment to make it to state and we will enjoy every moment. Each person on our team contributed today and this past week to earn our spot in the tournament.”

State is Friday and Saturday at Lake City High.

Senior Kylie Munday had 12 kills, 22 assists, seven blocks and four aces for Post Falls (30-6). Freshman Lucy Carr had 16 assists, seniors Jenna Sarff and Maleah Wilhelm four blocks each, junior Danielle Codd 12 digs.

Wallace d.

Victory Charter

GRANGEVILLE — Britany Philips had seven kills, 13 digs, four blocks and three aces as the Miners, who won the 1A Division I District 1 championship two days earlier, beat the Vipers 23-25, 25-17, 25-14, 25-12 in a state play-in match at Grangeville High.

Tia Hendrick had 15 kills for Wallace (19-2), which advances to state beginning Friday at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston.

Aubrey Birdsell totaled 35 assists, Iliana Lewis 14 digs for the Miners.

Rockland d.

Clark Fork

FRUITLAND — Two days after winning the 1A Division II District 1 championship, the Wampus Cats fell to the Bulldogs 25-8, 25-15, 25-5 in a state play-in match at Fruitland High.

Clark Fork finished 8-10.

“I’m sad to know our seniors are done playing Clark Fork volleyball, but I look forward to cheering them on in their other sports this year,” Clark Fork coach Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey said. “They are awesome, well-rounded kids.”

Senior Eloise Shelton had a team-high 10 digs for the Wampus Cats, and senior Lilly Reuter added eight kills. Aurora Lane added three kills and Piper Scarlett had four aces; both will return for Clark Fork next season.

“Our underclassmen gained valuable experience this season and I know they’re ready to continue representing our program well,” Kiebert-Carey said.

Kiebert-Carey, in her first year as head coach, said this season was truly a team effort.

“I want to thank Michelle Valliere and Tracey Andersen-Olson for coaching the girls in Fruitland since I couldn’t be there,” she said. “Because I welcomed my first baby in July, this season was a team effort in every sense of the term. I am so grateful for them. Good luck to Rockland in the state tournament.”

Nampa Christian d.

Orofino

GRANGEVILLE — The Maniacs, the 2A District 1-2 runners-up, fell to the Trojans 25-18, 25-10, 25-13 in a state 2A play-in match at Grangeville High.

Orofino, which defeated Priest River and St. Maries on Wednesday to keep its season alive, finished 10-9.

State is Friday and Saturday at Lakeland High.

STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

Looking for state volleyball tourney pairings for each of the six tournaments, which have usually been decided by the Saturday before state in the past?

You’ll have to wait a little while longer.

Since the Idaho High School Activities Association is using MaxPreps rankings to seed many of its state tournaments, and this year MaxPreps is figuring regional/district tournament results into its rankings, state volleyball tournament brackets are not expected to be announced by the IHSAA until today or Monday.