6A DISTRICT 1 VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Reverse sweep sends Post Falls to state

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

COEUR d'ALENE — Entering Saturday, the Post Falls Trojans hadn't been to state in volleyball since 2023. 

Apparently, the Trojans didn't want to wait another three days to make it official. 

Top-seeded Post Falls cleaned some things up after dropping the first two sets, bouncing back to beat the third-seeded Coeur d'Alene Vikings 20-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-13, 15-9 and sweep the best-of-3 series for the 6A Region 1 title Saturday at Viking Court. 

"I'm super excited to get to do this with this group of girls, and with my little sister (Lucy) especially," said Post Falls senior Teresa Smith, a three-year varsity member who finished with 12 kills. "I think we were more intentional in what we were doing; trying to have as much grit as possible to try to keep the ball alive." 

Freshman Peyton Barclift had 30 kills, 19 digs and two aces for Post Falls (22-3), which advances to state Oct. 29-31 at either Coeur d'Alene, Lake City or Post Falls high school, depending on who qualifies for state from the north. 

Coeur d'Alene (23-9), which beat No. 2 seed Lake City in the first round, will wait (as will Lake City) to see if they earn a spot in a state play-in match next Saturday, based on MaxPreps rankings.

Entering Saturday, Coeur d'Alene was ranked 10th in 6A, Lake City ninth, Post Falls fifth. 

Coeur d'Alene served for the match at 24-22 in the third set, before Post Falls scored the next four points to stay alive, then controlled the final two sets, helped by improved defensive play. 

"Unfortunately we're known to have some slow starts sometimes," first-year Post Falls coach Casey Cornett said. "We made some adjustments. When we get back to our game, and we control our own side, we end up doing a lot better. Just trying to stay where we knon we're supposed to be, and not get wrapped up in the chaos of the other team. And Peyton did a really good job of bringing us back, especially in that third set." 

"I think we just had so much more energy going into the third set," said senior setter Lucy Carr, a member of the Trojans' state team as a freshman, who finished with 33 assists and two aces. "I think we just needed to realize that we know how we can play, and just be able to work as a team, know that we beat them before, and go out and do it them again." 

Lucy Smith had 13 assists and 20 digs for Post Falls, Reese DeGraw seven blocks, Malia Uemoto five blocks.

Barclift had the winning kill from the outside on championship point. 

"100 percent mental," Barclift said of the adjustments after the second set. "Personally, I was a little frustrated, so I just wanted to bring the team together, and just go out and win." 

Senior Hannah Shafer had 10 kills, 25 digs and 37 assists for Coeur d'Alene, which controlled the first two sets with its blocking and defense. Jovie Le had 12 kills and five blocks, Avery Wilson 11 kills and three blocks, Embree McKeown 38 digs and two aces, Eva Callari 32 digs and three aces, Marly Sutich three blocks, Julianna Hasso two aces.  

"Our defense was really on fire the first two sets," Coeur d'Alene coach Carly Curtis said. "We were scrappy, we were putting the ball over. We got a little hesitant in the second and third, and had to get that mindset back. We hadn't taken them to five all year, so it's a step." 

Post Falls has won all four meetings with Coeur d'Alene, in three, four, four and five sets. 

    MARK NELKE/Press Post Falls sophomore Danica Pratt digs a ball against Coeur d'Alene in the second match of a best-of-3 series for the 6A District 1 volleyball championship Saturday at Viking Court.