Wallace 3, Clark Fork 2

COEUR d'ALENE — It was a season where Clark Fork experienced every high and low imaginable, and even though the result didn't fall in their favor, their fight was on full display in a 2A District 1-2 loser-out game against Wallace on Monday night.

Senior Aurora Lane posted a team-high 15 kills and a career-high 31 digs, freshman Kiylah Anderson set up a team-high 30 assists and served up a team-high five aces as the Lady Cats were defeated by the Lady Miners in a five-set thriller (26-24, 25-18, 23-25, 19-25, 15-11) at North Idaho College's Christianson Gymnasium.

Offensively, freshman Vanessa Rogier chipped in eight kills and two aces, junior Nora-Jean Hoy five kills and three aces for Clark Fork, which led 24-18 at one point before falling in the first set, but came back from a 2-0 set deficit and a seven-point third set deficit to force a fifth set. Anderson added four kills and two aces, senior Piper Scarlett, who was 16-for-16 from the service line, three kills and two aces on the night. Sophomore Elyssa Raynor was 9-for-11 from the service line herself and added in an ace.

"Aurora took a bulk of the offensive load," Clark Fork High head coach Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey said of the outside hitter, who attacked 62 times in the loss. "I told her there was no reason she shouldn't be able to take over the game, and she definitely did at some points. I was really proud of her, seeing her hard work and hard-earned confidence pay off in big moments... it was awesome to see her play both sides of the ball aggressively."

As for Anderson, three of her four kills came during the Lady Cats' 25-19 fourth set victory. Coach Kiebert-Carey said the freshman setter was aggressive from the service line and attacked when needed.

"The growth we have seen from her from the beginning of the season is amazing, and the future is so bright for this girl," coach Kiebert-Carey said of the setter, who finished her first varsity season with 435 assists. "She never once acted like she could afford to let up this season, being a freshman and being tasked with running the varsity's offense. She never put in any less than 100 percent... she should feel good knowing she put all of herself out there last night."

On defense, in addition to Lane's 31 digs, Scarlett produced a season-high 24 digs to reach 150 on the season.

"Piper took it to heart when I said there needed to be bodies on the floor for every ball, and she gave 110 percent," coach Kiebert-Carey said about the outside hitter. "Her laser focus from the service line is an example I will call out for years because she has that perfect balance between aggression and purpose."

Hoy had a season-high 18 digs, and Anderson and Rogier tallied 16 digs of their own for the Lady Cats, which totaled 125 digs on the evening. Sophomore Gracie Stevens contributed 14 digs to round out the all-around team effort.

"Gracie is a formidable competitor, and she is putting the work in at the gym to make sure that her play can match that; she did a really phenomenal job last night," coach Kiebert-Carey noted of the right-side hitter. "14 digs on 15 attempts — it was awesome to see her rise to the occasion at the end of the season."

Senior Azlyn Anderson closed out her varsity career with a six-dig performance.

"Azlyn knew that her job going in was to better the ball, no matter how it came to her," coach Kiebert-Carey said of the libero. "Every chance she had to touch it, she had to better it, and she did that. She can close her high school volleyball career knowing that she did exactly what had to be done, and did it really well."

Kiebert-Carey said the match ultimately came down to long rallies, where Wallace was able to outlast Clark Fork on exchanges that lasted upwards of six or seven times per point.

"I got multiple compliments from NIC personnel, Wallace folks, about the fight of our girls," coach Kiebert-Carey said. "Wampus Cat volleyball is bigger than one season, bigger than one team; it's a legacy of work and a legacy of community. Those seniors have left such a great mark on the program. Kids are going to know their names for years and they're going to emulate what they saw. I'm just really proud to coach kids that are worth emulating, mirroring and looking up to. They're incredible role models and I love all of them."

Lane and Hoy came away with one solo block each for Clark Fork, which finishes the season with a record of 9-10.