LAST SEASON: 8-10 with key wins over Mullan (2), Priest River, Noxon, Lakeside.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Piper Scarlett, jr.; Nora-Jean Hoy, so.; Hannah Thompson, sr.; Aurora Lane, jr.;Rebecca Heilman, sr.

Last year, with a record of 8-10, the Wampus Cats suffered there first losing season in quite awhile. Second-year head coach Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey is excited about the team's chances of turning things around and posting a winning record, which locals have become accustomed to expecting from Clark Fork volleyball.

"This year is pretty unique," coach Kiebert-Carey said. "A lot of this year's seniors didn't join volleyball until eighth grade or later."

Kiebert-Carey, who also coaches for the Clark Fork Juniors travel volleyball program, said in years past she has coached many of her players since as young as sixth grade.

"This year is more like... I got this girl her freshman year and I have seen her grow like crazy over the past three years, not just as a player, but as a person," coach Kiebert-Carey, a 2014 Clark Fork High graduate, said. 

Junior Aurora Lane, a 2023 All-North Star League First Team selection, and Piper Scarlett, a versatile outside hitter who was in last year's starting lineup, return to the court. 

"It's going to be tough, but I also expect it and love it," Scarlett said about the pressure that will be on her to perform at a high level this season. "The people I've looked up to before my time were good leaders, so that helps. We have a lot of freshman, players new to volleyball, on the team this year and they are already being aggressive; that's hard to teach. I'm excited for the season and I want to see how far we can make it, especially with moving up a league."

Coach Kiebert-Carey said Scarlett is going to be an important piece to the puzzle this year.

The Wampus Cats will also look towards senior Rebecca Heilman, a middle hitter who has been working hard this offseason. Heilman attended three different volleyball camps at Lewis-Clark State College this past summer, which she said has helped her improve immensely.

"Practice has been going really well," Heilman said. "The team is supportive. It being senior year, it's sad, but it's going to be a fun year."

Coach Kiebert-Carey said Heilman is an ideal teammate due to the fact that she is so supportive of others and is just an overall positive person.

Senior Hannah Thompson, a lefty outside hitter, will also see time this year. Coach Kiebert-Carey said she has worked hard to improve her mental game.

Other Wampus Cat seniors include Kayla Swales, Olivia Yetter, and Cherish Christensen.

Assisting Kiebert-Carey, in her second season, will be Tracy Andersen-Olson, a 1983 Sandpoint High graduate and Concordia University — St. Paul (NCAA Division II) Hall of Fame member in both basketball and volleyball.

"She just brings so much expertise on technique to the program, which is what you get when you've been coaching for 30-plus years," coach Kiebert-Carey said. "I have been really proud of how the girls are taking her coaching and applying it to their games, especially not being afraid to make mistakes while trying new things."

Kiebert-Carey said she wants to be able to pay Andersen-Olson back this year. While Kiebert-Carey was juggling work, volleyball, and a newborn baby last season, Andersen-Olson stepped up and did extra work to fill in the gaps.

As for 2024 schedule, it looks a bit different this year when compared to year's past. Now having moved up to 2A in volleyball, the Scenic Idaho Conference is Clark Fork, Lakeside, Wallace, and Genesis Prep.

"I'm looking forward to it," coach Kiebert-Carey said about the Wampus Cats' 2024 schedule. "Going into the season I wanted to be really tough on the girls and let them know we weren't going to be sorry for ourselves because we got dealt this hand."

Coach Kiebert-Carey said although the team has been dominant in the NSL in years past, she reminded her players that things change and that's okay.

"We are not going to have an attitude of apathy," coach Kiebert-Carey said about her players. "We have to come in, keyed in mentally, to understand that winning is great in a lot of ways... you can win by making your team a positive environment, by having people remark on how well you represent your community, etc."

In addition to their league-heavy schedule, Clark Fork will play Noxon twice, in what is an unofficial "border battle", and the now 4A Timberlake Tigers, who are always a challenge.

The Wampus Cats have been busy practicing over the summer. They have been regularly attending open gyms and played in a casual jamboree in Priest River in June. Beyond that, most of the varsity team was busy in the spring with travel volleyball as well. In addition to all that work, the team constructed a philosophy last week. It involves three separate words; the first two were picked out by the coaches, the last one by the players.

Ownership. Humility. Dedication.

Above all, Clark Fork volleyball is planning on carrying out their actions through those three words this season.

CFHS VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

8/27 — @ Lakeside, 7 p.m.

8/29 — @ Timberlake, 7 p.m.

9/3 — @ Wallace, 7 p.m.

9/5 — vs. Coeur du Christ, 7 p.m.

9/10 — vs. Mullan, 6 p.m.

9/12 — vs. Genesis Prep, 7 p.m.

9/14 — vs. Noxon, 11 a.m.

9/17 — @ Kootenai, 7 p.m.

9/19 — vs. Lakeside, 7 p.m.

9/24 — vs. Timberlake, 7 p.m.

9/26 — vs. Wallace, 7 p.m.

10/1 — @ Coeur du Christ, 6 p.m.

10/3 — @ Mullan, 6 p.m.

10/4 — @ Noxon, TBA

10/5 — vs. Kootenai, 2:30 p.m.

10/8 — @ Genesis Prep, 7 p.m.

    Clark Fork High junior Piper Scarlett serves for the Wampus Cats during a home game last season.