Nearly every game that the Clark Fork Wampus Cats volleyball team played in 2025 went to five sets, including their heartbreaking, season-ending loss to Wallace in the 2A District tournament. 

It's that loss and heartbreak that Clark Fork head coach Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey and the returners don't want to feel again. That's why Kiebert-Carey has made finishing games a top priority in preparation for the 2026 season. 

"We all kind of have a bad taste in our mouth about that still," Kiebert-Carey said. "A big emphasis this season is on how do we finish matches? How are we the ones who decide how this thing goes instead of just waiting for the other team to set the tone?" 

The Wampus Cats are reloading with nearly an entirely new roster this season, with only one senior, Nora-Jean Hoy, and six incoming freshmen. While that may seem like a recipe for a reset, Kiebert-Carey said that couldn't be further from the truth.  

As the president of the local Clark Fork Juniors Volleyball club, the city's USA Volleyball-affiliated club, Kiebert-Carey has seen the newcomers rising through the ranks of the organization. She said the juniors club wrapped up their best season yet, largely thanks to the girls joining her high school team. 

"They're dogs, like D-A-W-G dogs," Kiebert-Carey said of her freshmen. "They're going to do freshman things, and I'm ready for that. They're going to make the freshman choice sometimes, but they're going to learn quickly because they're all very, very hungry to do well, and very, very proud to be here, which is exciting." 

No more was that mentality on display than when the team scrimmaged with Bonners Ferry volleyball over the summer to give the girls their first taste of varsity. 

"One of my freshmen goes up for her very first varsity-level attack and just gets it stuffed back into her face. 'Welcome to high school!'" Kiebert-Carey said. "But they love that stuff. I mean, that ball got stuffed back in her face, and she looked at me and was like, 'That was awesome!'" 

The six freshmen will provide Kiebert-Carey with a lot of flexibility in the lineup. The Wampus Cats head coach also lauded their commitment to joining the program, whether it be Molly Adams working to become a 5-1 setter, Avery Aumick adding inches to her vertical, or Grace Thompson going the extra mile to different camps; they all trained over the summer. 

The youth will back up the strong line of returners, which includes Hoy, sophomore Vanessa Rogier and sophomore Kiylah Anderson. As the lone senior, Hoy said she is trying to lead the team by example and become the one that the younger players can look up to. 

"Last year, I was looking up to the seniors a lot, so I just hope that the younger girls on my team look up to me the same way I looked up [to them]," Hoy said. "I like being a person that they can come to for help if they need advice or anything like that, and I like being a voice on the court so they can trust someone is talking about something." 

This year, Clark Fork athletics is dropping from the 2A Scenic Idaho Conference down to the 1A North Star League. However, Kiebert-Carey said a majority of their opponents will stay the same, and they'll be looking to avenge those losses to Wallace and Lakeside from a year ago. 

Overall, Kiebert-Carey said the team is eyeing a return to state, which Clark Fork hasn't been to since 2022, and looking at the teams down south, who they'll need to beat to get there. The head coach said that confidence comes from the fact that her girls are excited to be at Clark Fork and to learn the game. 

"My favorite thing about this group of girls is that they're proud to be here every day," Kiebert-Carey said. "They're proud to wear the blue and gold." 

FUN FACT: With the drop down to the 1A North Star League, Clark Fork will be squaring off against Coeur du Christ, Kootenai and Mullan for a trip to state.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Nora-Jean Hoy, sr,; Vanessa Rogier, so.; Kiylah Anderson, so. 

MOST ANTICIPATED GAME: Coeur du Christ Academy, 9/22 and 10/1. With the drop down to 1A, Kiebert-Carey said Clark Fork's showdowns with CDCA will test the team thanks to the Knights' respected coaching staff and be key in league play.

SCHEDULE: 

- 8/25 @ Kootenai Classical, 6 p.m. 

- 8/27 vs Lakeside, 6:30 p.m. 

- 9/2 @ Wallace, 7 p.m. 

- 9/3 vs Genesis Prep, 6 p.m. 

- 9/4 vs Valor, 7 p.m. 

- 9/8 vs Kootenai Classical, 6 p.m. 

- 9/10 @ Lakeside, 7 p.m. 

- 9/14 vs Noxon (MT), 7 p.m. 

- 9/15 vs Wallace, 7 p.m. 

- 9/17 vs Mullan, 6 p.m. 

- 9/22 vs CDCA, 7 p.m. 

- 9/24 @ Kootenai, 7 p.m. 

- 9/29 @ Mullan, 7 p.m. 

- 10/1 @ CDCA, 7 p.m. 

- 10/6 vs Kootenai, 7 p.m. 

- 10/8 @ Noxon (MT), 6 p.m. 

- 10/9 @ Valor, 7 p.m. 

- 10/13-15 District Tourney, NIC 

*Schedule as of 8/20, subject to change.