STATE HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS: Lakeland powers into 5A semifinals

5A

BOISE — The Lakeland Hawks are one win away from playing for a state championship for the second straight year. 

The third-seeded Hawks outlasted the No. 2 seed Shelley Russets 25-17, 17-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-9 in a state 5A second-round match Friday at Timberline High. 

“Strong win against Shelley tonight,” Lakeland coach Kelsie Badger said. “So proud of our girls and the determination and fight they showed from start to finish.” 

Lakeland (17-12), last year’s state runners-up, will play the top-seeded Hillcrest Knights (27-6) of Ammon in the semifinal match today at 10 a.m. PDT. The winner advances to the championship match at 3 p.m.; the loser can earn a spot back in the championship round by winning its next match.

Senior Alyssa Ryckman had 18 kills for Lakeland. Junior Jolie Warren added 12 kills, sophomore Emma Beaty 33 digs, junior Kindell Day 24 assists and two blocks, freshman Jaeli Hoffman 20 assists, junior Raygen Dutton three aces and three blocks, sophomore Anabel Bowie three blocks. 

“Alyssa had a standout game, making an impact both in the front row and back row,” Badger said. “Emma came up with some great saves, and our setters did a great job mixing up plays and keeping our offense balanced. Very proud of this group tonight.” 

6A

Coeur d’Alene drops two, eliminated

BOISE — After winning their opener on Thursday, the fourth-seeded Coeur d’Alene Vikings lost twice on Friday and were eliminated from the state 6A tournament at Capital High. 

In the first match Friday, the Vikings lost 25-18, 25-14, 25-13 to top-seeded Skyview of Nampa. 

Then Friday night, Coeur d’Alene fell to third-seeded Rocky Mountain of Meridian 25-17, 25-22, 25-23. 

“Tonight didn’t go the way we hoped, and it’s never easy to end on a loss,” Coeur d’Alene coach Carly Curtis said. “Rocky’s a strong, high-powered offensive team, and they made us work for everything. But our girls battled for each other all season — they played with heart, energy, and love for the game, and they left it all on the floor.” 

Against Rocky, senior Gianna Callari had 13 kills, 11 digs and two aces for Coeur d’Alene, which finished 24-6. Senior Kaylee Paulson had 11 kills, junior Hannah Shafer five blocks and 16 assists, freshman Eva Callari 16 assists and an ace, junior Bridget Maiani 13 digs and an ace, sophomore Maren Larson five blocks. 

Against Skyview, Paulson had eight kills and seven digs for Coeur d’Alene, Gianna Callari six kills, seven digs and four blocks, Eva Callari 17 digs and seven assists, Shafer 10 assits, Larson and junior Jovie Le three blocks each, Maiani one ace. 

“We came out strong and went toe-to-toe with Skyview, matching them point for point early,” Curtis said. “Unfortunately, we lost our rhythm late in the first set, and from there we just couldn’t regain our momentum.” 

4A 

Timberlake bows out in two

IDAHO FALLS — The eighth-seeded Tigers led the fourth-seeded Indians two sets to one before bowing out at the state 4A tournament at the Mountain America Center with a 25-18, 21-25, 16-25, 25-21, 15-9 loss. 

Freshman Everlee Powell totaled 14 kills, eight blocks, eight digs and three aces for Timberlake (12-12), which was at state for the first time since 2021. 

Freshman Layla Webb added 11 kills and 13 blocks, freshman Jordyn Parke 19 assists and 11 digs, junior Willow Mattson 16 assists and 12 digs, sophomore Addie Archer 10 kills and 19 digs, senior Amarijana Olivieri six kills, 19 digs and two aces.  

“We saw some incredible highs and had to fight through some lows,” second-year Timberlake coach Lisa Gardom said. “Our passing was better today so we were able to run a quicker offense and we found success connecting with Everlee Powell in the middle. Layla Webb was incredibly strong on the block on the right side and was swinging well. Our setters worked hard and made smart choices by moving the ball around and connecting with our hitters. Our captains kept us in play defensively and were able to use Preston's block to our advantage while hitting.  We lost our focus in the beginning of the fourth set and weren’t able to recover.” 

Timberlake lost to top-seeded Bear Lake in the first round Thursday. 

“Despite the losses this weekend, we have a lot to be proud of,” Gardom said. We played as a team this season and put in the work. We battled to get to the state tournament and never gave up this weekend. We continue to learn along the way and we have a lot to look forward to." 

3A 

Kellogg out after two losses

IDAHO FALLS — After winning their first-round match on Thursday, the second-seeded Wildcats lost twice on Friday, and were eliminated from the state 3A tournament at the Mountain America Center. 

In the second round, Kellogg lost to No. 6 Melba 25-15, 27-29, 24-26, 25-17, 15-11. 

Then on Friday night, the Wildcats were eliminated by Nampa Christian d. Kellogg 25-9, 22-25, 25-18, 25-13. 

Kellogg, bidding for its first trophy from state in program history, fell one win short and finished 25-3. 

2A 

Wallace out, one win shy of trophy

POST FALLS — After staying alive earlier Friday with a 25-15, 25-10, 25-17 win over seventh-seeded Wilder, the sixth seed Wallace Miners were eliminated from the state 2A tournament Friday night with a 25-21, 20-25, 25-15, 25-21 loss to No. 4 Oakley in a loser-out match at The Arena. 

Wallace finished 17-10. 

1A

Coeur du Christ goes two-and-out in first trip to state

COEUR d’ALENE — The eighth-seeded Saints lost to the fifth-seeded Mackay Miners 25-14, 25-15, 25-19 in a loser-out match of the state 1A tournament at Coeur d’Alene High’s Viking Court. 

Coeur du Christ (11-6) was making its first trip to state, in its fourth year as a program, and second as a full member of the Idaho High School Activities Association. 

“We had a tough loss, but a really fun game to finish on,” fourth-year Coeur du Christ coach Natalie Kiefer said. “We definitely had too many unforced errors in the first couple of sets, but by the third set, we were playing much more of our game. It’s always a bitter note to end a season on a loss, but only one team gets to end on a win. Our seniors will surely be missed for their playing, but more importantly, for their attitudes and hearts.”