PREP VOLLEYBALL: Timberlake advances to state play-in match

• 4A

SPIRIT LAKE — Senior Amarijana Olivieri had 10 kills, 22 digs, two aces and two blocks for the top-seeded Timberlake Tigers in a 22-25, 25-12, 25-23, 25-17 win over the second-seeded Bonners Ferry Badgers in Match 2 of the best-of-3 4A District 1 championship series to advance to a state play-in match on Saturday. 

Timberlake (11-10) will face either McCall-Donnelly or Weiser on Saturday at Lewiston High at 1 p.m., bidding for its first trip to state since 201. 

“This was a whole team effort,” second-year Timberlake coach Lisa Gardom said. “I’m so proud of this team and their fight. Bonners showed up and let us know we were going to have to work hard for the win. We never gave up and battled our way through to the finish line. We believed, we worked and never stopped fighting. We still have work to do with the play-in game on Saturday, but we are up for the challenge and very excited for the opportunity.” 

Sophomore Addie Archer had 11 kills, 17 digs and three aces, freshman Jordyn Parke 20 assists, nine digs and one ace, senior Kaydence Edwards 15 assists, five digs and two kills, freshman Everlee Powell nine kills and four blocks and senior Rilynn Kaiser five blocks, three kills and three aces for Timberlake. 

Bonners Ferry finished 5-17. 

• 1A

Coeur du Christ d. 

Kootenai 

COEUR d’ALENE — The top-seeded Saints, in their fourth year as a volleyball program and second year as a full member of the Idaho High School Activities Association, qualified for state for the first time with a 25-10, 25-11, 25-8 victory over the Warriors in the championship match of the 1A District 1 tournament at North Idaho College’s Christianson Gym. 

Coeur du Christ (11-4) advances to state Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at Coeur d’Alene High School. 

The Saints won the North Star League and district titles last year, their first as an IHSAA-eligible program, but lost in a state play-in match. 

Coeur d’Alene was led by its three all-league selections, senior middle blocker Maddie Junkin (the league MVP), senior setter Kate Clemens and junior Angelica Ross. 

“Tonight, it felt like we controlled the tempo every time the ball was on our side, and that’s exactly what you want to feel,” fourth-year Coeur du Christ coach Natalie Kiefer said. “It didn’t seem like we were on our heels or caught off guard by much, so we took every opportunity to run our offense. That was led by some fantastic passing in serve receive and defense. And then our hitters really took advantage of getting an open net when Kate was reading the blockers and making smart decisions. As coaches, we were very impressed by the energy and the drive that the girls kept throughout the whole match.” 

Kootenai finished 3-12. 

• 2A

Wallace d. 

Lakeside 

COEUR d’ALENE — Senior Kylee Phillips had nine kills, 16 digs and three aces for the second-seeded Miners, who forced an if-necessary championship match in the 2A District 1 tournament, beating the top-seeded Knights 25-20, 25-11, 25-12 at North Idaho College’s Christianson Gymnasium. 

Wallace (15-8) will play Lakeside (15-2) on Saturday at noon at Ron Miller Court, with the winner advancing to the state tournament starting next Thursday at Post Falls High. 

Senior Megan Hull had 11 kills, 10 digs and one block, senior Aubrey Birdsell 17 assists, seven digs, three kills and two aces, junior Grace DeLano three kills, two blocks and four digs and junior Kayden Stutzke 12 assists and five digs for Wallace. 

Senior Tylah Lambert had nine digs, three kills, 11 assists and one block, senior Kimberly Pluff 11 digs, three kills and one ace, senior Rayna Schatz 123 digs and one kill, sophomore Saydee Peone seven kills and seven digs, senior Alberta Stensgar two kills and two blocks and junior Alliesue Hendrickx seven digs and one ace for Lakeside. 

“Now to rebuild the next couple of days so we come ready and with fire to play and win at our home court,” Lakeside coach Devyn Moore said. “Tylah dug some hard balls tonight and tried to get our offense going tonight. Allisue covered great and passed the ball well tonight. Kimmie had aggressive swings that Wallace just dug well. My middles put lots of hands on their hitters tonight. Now back to Miller Court. 

    JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Timberlake senior outside hitter Amarijana Olivieri hits the ball over a Bonners Ferry blocker during the second game of the 4A District 1 best-of-3 series at Timberlake High.