PREP VOLLEYBALL: Coeur d'Alene battles back, knocks off Post Falls in four

POST FALLS — The Post Falls Trojans captured the first set, but it was all Coeur d’Alene after that as the Vikings rolled to a 20-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-15 victory in the 6A Inland Empire League opener for both teams Tuesday night at The Arena. 

Senior Gianna Callari had 16 kills, 16 digs and three blocks for Coeur d’Alene (3-0), and junior setter Hannah Shafer had 34 assists, 16 digs and two aces. 

“First set we were pretty inconsistent in our ball control, and struggled in our serve receive,” Coeur d’Alene coach Carly Curtis said. “The second set we did much better controlling the ball and were able to run our hitters. Hannah did an amazing job distributing the ball and getting everybody involved.” 

Callari, a middle blocker who has committed to Division II Point Loma Nazarene in San Diego, played just the front row in the first set. After that, Viking coaches decided to leave her in all the way around, and several of her kills came from the back row. 

“Gianna had an amazing night," Curtis said. "She just brings a little spark out there with her energy, starting with the second set.” 

Senior Camryn Farrar added 10 kills and 20 digs for Coeur d’Alene, and Curtis also had praise for defensive specialists Bridget Maiani (17 digs), a junior, and Embree McKeown, a sophomore. 

Senior Kaylee Paulson had nine kills and three aces, before suffering a sprained left ankle late in the third set when she came down on a Post Falls player’s foot after a spike attempt.  

The Vikings sat Paulson the rest of the match as a precaution, but Curtis praised her replacements, Julianna Hasso (front row) and Eva Callari (back row), both sophomores. 

Junior Jovie Le had five blocks for Coeur d’Alene, which plays host to Sandpoint on Thursday. 

For Post Falls (2-1), junior Teresa Smith had 15 kills and 11 digs, senior Tiffany Foxx nine kills and four aces, junior Lucy Carr 23 assists, sophomore Claire Ziegler 10 assists and 11 digs, senior Mia Carr 23 digs, junior Reese DeGraw-Tryall five blocks, sophomore Annabelle Tucker two blocks. 

“I was really proud of our effort tonight,” Post Falls coach Matt Barkley said. “We came out strong in the first set and we were able to dictate the tempo. We dug ourselves into a hole early in the second set and you can’t do that against a team that is as good as CHS. They were able to take back the momentum and we couldn’t adjust. Teresa had a great match offensively and defensively, and Mia Carr showed some great senior leadership on the floor tonight. I like the direction we’re heading." 

Post Falls returns to action next Wednesday at home vs. Mt. Spokane. 

Priest River d.

St. Maries

PRIEST RIVER — The host Spartans swept the Lumberjacks 25-12, 25-20, 25-18 in Central Idaho League play. 

St. Maries (0-2, 0-1 CIL) plays host to Orofino on Thursday in league play. 

Priest River is 3-0, 1-0.

Wallace d.  

Clark Fork 

WALLACE — Kylee Phillips had eight kills, three blocks and 21 digs for the Miners in a 25-18, 25-17, 13-25, 11-25, 17-15 win over the Wampus Cats in the Scenic Idaho Conference opener for both at Kirby Krulitz Court. 

Khepri Wood had six kills and three blocks, Megan Hull 11 kills and eight digs, Aubrey Birdsell 18 assists, 10 digs and two kills and Kayden Stutzke 12 assists and four aces for Wallace (2-1), which travels to Kootenai on Thursday. 

Clark Fork (0-3) hosts Coeur du Christ on Thursday. 

Mullan d. 

Lakeside JV

MULLAN — The Tigers improved to 2-0 with a 3-0 win over the Knights JV at the Mullan Pavilion.

No other information was available.

Mullan travels to Clark Fork next Tuesday.

Timberlake vs.

Genesis Prep, ppd.

POST FALLS — The nonleague match at The Courts was postponed.

    MARK NELKE/Press Post Falls sophomore Zuri Blood (8) hits past Coeur d'Alene senior Gianna Callari (11) on Tuesday night at The Arena at Post Falls.