For the week of  October 24 - 30, 2001

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Peaking, Cutthroat spikers head to state

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By JODY ZARKOS
Express Staff Writer

Playing at the top of their game has put Community School volleyball players on top of the heap—and heading for their first state volleyball tournament appearance in 17 years.

After winning the school’s first-ever Northside Conference volleyball championship last Wednesday in Gooding, a tired but thrilled group of Community School volleyball players and coaches poses for a team shot. Front row, from left, Kylie Douglas, Lauren Drew and Morgan LaPeter. Back row, from left, Jamie Terry, Ashley Alfs, head coach Mike McCann, Sarah Bahan, Lili Tenney, Katie Matteson, assistant coach Doug Fenn, Tami Parten and Annie Alcid. Express photo by Jeff Cordes

The Cutthroats (15-5) pulled off four stunning victories in last week’s Northside Conference tournament and followed it up by winning the Fourth District tournament to advance to the Oct. 25-27 State 1A tournament as the number-one seed from the Fourth District.

"We went down there and blew away the Southside Conference," Cutthroat coach Mike McCann said of Thursday‘s playoff and state seeding action, which resulted in a Northside Conference sweep.

Playing at Hansen, The Community School defeated Southside champion Murtaugh 15-10, 15-7 led by the power hitting of senior Jamie Terry (7 kills, 3 blocks).

Northside Conference runner-up Camas County beat Raft River in two and Shoshone followed suit with a two-game win over Hagerman.

The Mushers and Indians also earned berths in the 16-team state tournament by winning their matches at Hansen.

It was the Cutthroats, however, who crashed last week’s party—sweeping both the Northside and Fourth District titles for the first time in the school’s 18 seasons of interscholastic volleyball.

 

Pressure-packed volleyball

Ketchum/Sun Valley picked up some valuable experience in dealing with pressure-packed situations at the Northside Conference tournament at ISDB in Gooding, Oct. 15-17.

Ranked third in the seven-team field, the Cutthroats knocked off #1 Shoshone, #2 Dietrich, #4 Camas County and #6 Richfield, all in two games.

In Wednesday’s tourney championship, Camas County forced the Cutthroats to an "if-necessary" contest after winning the first match 15-8, 15-9.

"After we lost, we went back to the locker room and had a heart-to-heart. It wasn’t pretty," McCann said.
"Then we went out, warmed up for 20 minutes and we were a totally different team."

The Cutthroats came back against a tough but tired Camas squad and collected a 15-7, 15-9 victory for their first Northside Conference title.

Senior state tennis champ Lauren Drew (9 winners) served the ‘Throats to 3-0 and 4-0 leads in the two games. Rangy seniors Jamie Terry and Lili Tenney (7 service winners) monopolized the net with a slew of blocks and kills.

Camas, entering its fifth hour of do-or-die volleyball, made one last push and reduced its second-game deficit to 6-5. But Cutthroat senior Katie Matteson pounded four service winners and Terry added three more, Tenney punctuating the win with four straight kills.

"I am so proud of all of them. They really stepped up," McCann remarked. "We played our brand of power volleyball."

McCann also gave much credit to Camas County, a determined group led by seniors like Annika Backstrom, Sarah Vouch, Bethany Englestad and Becky Schiermeier.

The Community School put its brand on Shoshone last Tuesday, handing the highly-touted Indians (23-4) a 15-12, 15-13 loss. Ketchum/Sun Valley erased a 9-0 deficit in the second game to win the match.

McCann summed up, "It was a total team effort. We played good defense and took the shots we needed to take. It was awesome."

The Cutthroats have been to state once before, but it was a memorable trip for coach Nancy Parsons-Brown 17 years ago.

In 1984, Ketchum/Sun Valley (17-4) completed its first-ever volleyball season by beating coach Ben Stroud’s Dietrich Blue Devils 16-14, 15-11 to win the Class A-4 state title at Idaho Falls.

The 2001 1A State Volleyball Tournament is Oct. 25-27 in Lewiston. The format in the 16-team tournament features pool play on the opening day. The top two teams from each pool advance to the double-elimination round of eight on Friday and Saturday.

"I honestly believe double-elimination favors us," McCann said. "We may have one off game, but we won’t have two. We have five experienced seniors who have played in some tough matches. Plus, it can’t get anymore nerve wracking than the conference tournament."

Playing in Pool C at Jenifer Junior High School, the Community School opens up against District 1 champion Clark Fork at 11 a.m., and play Kendrick (3rd place in District 2) at 3:30 p.m. and Rimrock (4th in D3) at 7:30 p.m. The championship rounds will be at Lewis/Clark State College.

"Anyone who goes to state is a good team, but I don’t think there are six better athletes on a team than we have. I feel pretty confident about our chances," McCann said.

The first-year coach said the team’s primary goal is to finish first or second in pool play and then advance to the elite eight.

"Then we will recommit ourselves with a new goal on Friday. Of course, the ultimate goal is to play really well and to all the way. We showed up for four straight nights at conference and districts. That kind of experience is going to bode well at state," McCann summed up.

 

All-Conference nods

Four Community School players have earn Northside All-Conference honors, voted by league coaches.

Jamie Terry was a first- team selection. Second-team honorees were Katie Matteson and Tami Parten. Honorable mention went to Lili Tenney.

Conference Coach of the Year was Becky Skinner of Camas County.

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