Bulldogs head to 4A state volleyball tournament with trophy aspirations

Face tough first round test against reigning state champs

BY ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

SANDPOINT — Most state championship volleyball teams share some similar traits, with experience, depth, firepower and gritty defense usually chief among them.

Luckily for the Bulldogs, they have all of those traits in spades, which could carry them a long way when they serve it up Friday morning in Idaho Falls against the reigning 6-time 4A state champion Century Diamondbacks.

The Bulldogs (21-12) last won a state title in 2008, and the past few trips to the tournament have resulted in two-and-out performances. Last year they missed out on state for the first time in a decade, and it didn’t sit well with either the players or coaches, who hope to bring home some hardware this time around.

When practice started this fall, the team met every morning to train at Sandpoint City Beach, where they put in yeoman work and laid the foundation for what has been their most successful season in years. As good as they’ve played, head coach Erin Roos thinks the best is still yet to come from her team.

“We’re very physical and still improving daily,” claimed Roos. “I don’t think we’ve played our best volleyball yet, and there’s no better place to peak then the state tournament.”

Leading the way will be a pair of three year starters in senior outside hitter Kayla Neumann and senior setter Laney Search, both of whom have been to state before and know the high level of competition.

Neumann is the Bulldogs’ go-to hitter, essential at state where the last few points of each set can be pressure-packed and tough to earn, while Search is the rare versatile setter who is also dangerous in the hitting attack. Equally capable of ending points are Grace Hicks, Grace Kirscher, Marina Bruener and Alexis Davis, all of whom make the Bulldogs’ 6-2 offense difficult to defend.

“We will be leaning most on Kayla and Laney, because of their leadership, experience and talent,” predicted Roos, who has four players 6-foot or taller. “Our success will be dependent on our right sides (Hicks and Breuner) and middles (Kirscher and Davis) consistently putting up a strong, seamless block.”

While offense is important and scores points, it’s the grimy defense that often leads to championships. With a strong back row of Lilly Anderson, McCalee Cain, Kaitlan Ward and Cheyenne Nicholson, coupled with the versatility of Shelby Kluver in both rows, the Bulldogs excel at keeping the ball off the floor. Cain is also a capable setter, which allows Search to get swings and create matchup problems for opposing defenses.

Sandpoint owns impressive wins over 5As Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls (twice), and a five set loss to 5A state qualifier Lewiston, while going undefeated in league play, dropping just one set in five meetings between Lakeland and Moscow.

While the Diamondbacks (26-14) boasts an impressive résumé, especially in recent years, they may be ripe for the picking this year. Along with Sandpoint, undefeated Skyview (17-0) and traditional 5A power and recent 4A school Idaho Falls (33-7) are hoping for a new champion.

The Bulldogs hope the hard work on the beach and a salty schedule will pay off with a deep run at state.

“I believe the confidence they’ve developed from beating and competing with some tough 5A schools will carry us. This team has developed an appetite for competition,” praised Roos. “They are able to stay loose and enjoy those moments when the pressure is on, the score is close and they have to perform well.”

Friday’s state opener starts at 9 a.m. at Hillcrest High School in Idaho Falls.