STATE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS: Coeur d'Alene puts it in writing

By MARK NELKE

Sports editor

Why? 

After the second set of last Saturday’s winner-take-all volleyball match vs. Post Falls, tied at one set apiece, the Coeur d’Alene Vikings gathered in the corner of the gym, behind their bench, where they looked at a poster, taped up to the side of the bleachers. 

On the poster contained several writings — some several sentences, some with just a couple of words. 

Why? 

“This is all the reasons why we play for each other,” Coeur d’Alene coach Carly Curtis explained later, motioning to the poster. “Everybody wrote something — to seniors, friends and family. Our big thing this year is play free, without judgment. There’s a lot of talent, but you have to have the mindset.” 

Why then?  

"Because we knew that that third set was going to be critical,” Curtis said. “We let the seniors lead, we let them read the stuff that they wrote, we let them read what other people wrote. This was just our reset ... let's not get too confident. Let’s come out focused and ready to play.” 

Coeur d’Alene went on to win the third set, and closed out the Trojans in the fourth to win the 6A District 1 title and advance to state for the third straight year. 

Coeur d’Alene (23-4) is the No. 4 seed for this week’s state 6A tourney at Capital High in Boise. The Vikings open Thursday vs. No. 5 Rigby (31-8) at 2 p.m. PDT.

“This is going to go to state with us,” Curtis said, motioning to the poster. 

So is a team led by senior right side hitter Gianna Callari, who has verbally committed to NCAA Division II Point Loma Nazarene in San Diego, senior outside hitter Kaylee Paulson, who has committed to Montana, and senior outside hitter Camryn Farrar, who is also a versatile defender. 

“Our senior leadership was amazing this year,” Curtis said. “They had a goal they wanted to reach, and they got everybody to buy in. It was awesome.” 

The younger players have also stepped up, including junior setter Hannah Shafer, sophomore setter Eva Callari, junior libero Bridget Maiani, sophomore defensive specialist Embree McKeown and sophomore middle blocker Maren Larson. 

“With good leadership that happens,” Curtis said. “They came out feeling comfortable to make an error.” 

Coeur d’Alene finished tied for fifth at state each of the last two years, one win away from a trophy. 

'Rebuilding' Lakeland grows up fast

Apparently, teams rebuild in different ways. 

The Lakeland Hawks lost three players from last year’s state 5A runner-up volleyball team who are now playing in college — Ziya Munyer (Weber State), Olivia Zazuetta (North Idaho College) and Landree Simon (basketball at University of Providence in Great Falls, Mont.). 

So how did the “rebuild” go? 

Lakeland is back at state once again, as the No. 3 seed for this week’s event at Timberline High in Boise. The Hawks (15-12) open vs. No. 6 and fellow 5A Inland Empire League foe, Moscow (16-14) on Thursday at 4 p.m. PDT. 

“Absolutely — they grew up fast,” eighth-year Lakeland coach Kelsie Badger said. “We knew this season would come with some learning curves, but these girls bought in right away. They worked hard, trusted each other, and kept getting better every week. We had to figure out new roles and lineups, but their commitment and competitiveness really pushed us through.” 

Senior outside hitter Alyssa Ryckman and junior middle blocker Raygen Dutton returned as starters. Other returnees played bigger roles this season, such as Chloe Neff, a senior defensive specialist; Kindell Day, a junior setter/right side hitter; Jolie Warren, a junior outside hitter, and Anabel Bowie, a sophomore middle blocker. They were joined by, among others, freshman setter/right side hitter Jaeli Hoffman. 

“Our upperclassmen have been incredible leaders — steady, positive, and vocal when we needed direction,” Badger said. “And our younger players have really stepped up in big moments. They’ve learned quickly how to play at a varsity pace, make adjustments, and contribute under pressure. It’s been fun to watch that development.” 

After finishing ahead of some of the 6A teams in the combined 6A/5A Inland Empire League in recent years, Lakeland took some lumps this year, losing to fellow 5A IEL squads Lewiston and Sandpoint. But Lakeland was the best when it mattered; as the second seed, the Hawks knocked off top-seeded Lewiston to win the 5A Region 1 title. 

“We learned how to respond to adversity,” Badger said. “Early losses taught us how important composure and communication are. Instead of getting discouraged, the girls used those moments to grow stronger as a team. By the end of the season, we were playing with a level of grit and belief that came directly from those tougher matches.” 

Just like some other recent Lakeland teams. 

“There’s a standard of excellence here, and the younger players have grown up watching Lakeland volleyball compete at a high level,” Badger said. “They understand what it takes — the work ethic, the discipline, the team-first mentality. That culture definitely carries over year to year.” 

Last year marked the second time in five seasons Lakeland has played for the state championship. The Hawks captured the first state title in program history in 2020. 

“I’m just incredibly proud of this team — their growth, resilience, and how they’ve come together,” Badger said. “We’ve had different players step up at different times, and that’s what makes us strong. This group has earned every bit of this opportunity.” 

State a new thing for this Timberlake bunch

Timberlake has a strong history of qualifying for the state volleyball tournament. 

But this year’s trip to state will be a first for this year’s bunch. 

The Tigers qualified for state for the first time since 2021. 

“It’s a very exciting time for Timberlake volleyball, and especially for this team,” second-year Tigers coach Lisa Gardom said. “It has been a few years ... but I can’t think of a better group to end the drought and represent North Idaho in Idaho Falls this weekend. They are a young group with a lot of talent and I’m really happy they get to have this experience.” 

Timberlake (12-10) will be the No. 8 seed when the state 4A tournament begins Thursday at the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls. The Tigers will open vs. No. 1 seed Bear Lake (33-3) at noon. 

“I’m extremely proud of the work they have put in to get here,” said Gardom, an assistant for several years under Michelle Garwood, who started the program in 1998. “We have battled adversity throughout the season with injuries among some key players in key positions, but their teammates have willingly stepped up and stepped into those gaps and filled them. I never heard one complaint and as these players learned their new roles, they asked questions so they could improve and they continue to give all they have to the team.” 

Timberlake needed an extra step to get to state. After beating Bonners Ferry to win the District 1 championship, the Tigers had to beat McCall-Donnelly in a state play-in match — where Timberlake rallied from a 13-9 deficit in the fifth set to win 16-14. 

“The last few weeks have been amazing to watch as they have been able to put it all together at the best possible time,” Gardom said. “They have learned to play as a team and not as individuals, which has helped in their success. I have been impressed with their incredible fight and their resilience, as we saw in the state play-in game. They don’t give up.” 

Gardom praised her captains, senior outside hitter Amarijana Olivieri and sophomore outside hitter Addie Archer, for their leadership. 

Three freshmen have also played key roles as well — outside hitter Everlee Powell, middle blocker Layla Webb and setter Jordyn Parke. 

“Our freshmen are dynamic and strong and come in with huge points that shift the momentum at times or help us maintain it,” Gardom said. “They have a ton of talent and they bring excitement and enthusiasm to our game that we enjoy feeding off of.  

“Ultimately though, for us, every single player on this team helped us get to this point. I don’t just say that. We have had to rely at different times throughout the season on each person on this team because of what the season has thrown at us. But I think that’s a great testament to each one of these girls and this team. They put in the work and this is their reward.” 

Coeur du Christ makes big strides in a short time

In their first year as a program, in 2022, the Coeur du Christ Saints were fortunate to have six players to put on the court. 

The seventh, Madeline Junkin, was homeschooling at the time, and considering Coeur du Christ Academy. 

But when the Saints played public schools that season, Junkin wasn’t allowed to play. 

“It is so funny to look back on that,” fourth-year Coeur du Christ coach Natalie Kiefer said. “Most of the girls had never played the game at all, so we spent most of the time as coaches (Kiefer and then-assistant Kellen Clemens, now the head football coach and athletic director) just making sure the girls knew where to stand on the court.” 

During matches that first season, Kiefer remembers when the whistle would blow, “the girls didn’t know what the signs of the officials meant, so they would look to us to see who won the point,” she said. “It was hilarious. They always waited to celebrate until they were sure we actually got the serve.” 

Fast-forward to 2025, and Coeur du Christ is headed to state for the first time in program history, and its second season eligible as a full member of the Idaho High School Activities Association. 

The Saints (11-4) are the No. 8 seed for the state 1A tournament, which begins Thursday at Coeur d’Alene High, and open vs. Top seed Horseshoe Bend (23-5) at 1 p.m. 

“It means so much to get to compete at state this year, after seeing the growth of these girls from the beginning of the program,” said Kiefer, the former Natalie Stewart, who was a standout volleyball player at Coeur d’Alene High and then at Carroll College in Helena, Mont. “They just play with so much heart. They are kind. They are disciplined. As coaches, we just couldn’t ask for a better group to get to go experience this with. It is a bit weird having it up here at CHS, because we won’t be traveling together as a team. So we are trying to make the experience as similar to an away tournament as we can.” 

Junkin, setter Kate Clemens (Kellen’s daughter) and setter/defensive specialist Ava Fiore are the lone seniors remaining from that inaugural 2022 squad. 

Junkin, a middle blocker, is considering playing in college. 

Coeur du Christ won the North Star League, and punched its first ticket to state by winning the 1A District 1 tournament. The Saints won league and districts last year as well, but had to play a state play-in match, falling to St. John Bosco of Cottonwood. 

This year, the returnees improved, and the squad was bolstered by the addition of freshman libero Espi Klocko and freshman Therese Junkin, Maddie’s sister. 

Playing eight matches vs. 2A schools (and winning four, including the last three) toughened the 2025 version of the Saints, who are a far cry from the 2022 version. 

“A bunch of these girls didn’t know how to skip or jump rope when they came in,” Kiefer said. “Many were homeschooled and just hadn’t done those things. Now they are running stack plays on offense, and it is just incredible to see the difference in them.” 

    MARK NELKE/Press Lakeland Hawks, from left: Jaeli Hoffman (8), Emma Beaty (2), Chloe Neff (1), Anabel Bowie (7), Jolie Warren (3) and Kindell Day (10).
 

    MARK NELKE/Press Sadie Harrington (7) and Angelica Ross (14) of Coeur du Christ in action against Kootenai earlier this season.

    Courtesy photo The Timberlake High volleyball team posed for a photo after winning a state play-in match Saturday in Lewiston. From left are assistant coach Ashlyn Mallet, assistant coach Becca Cazier, Willow Mattson, Shae Jones, Kaydence Edwards, Layla Webb, Addie Archer, Rilynn Kaiser, Amarijana Olivieri, Rhylee Yetter, Ella Johnsen, Jordyn Parke, Alicia Nield, Everlee Powell, head coach Lisa Gardom and assistant coach Mariah Schreiner.