Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Idaho Falls Tigers roar to Hailey volleyball title

Filer’s Wildcats make it to final


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Idaho Falls Tigers roar to Hailey volleyball title

Senior Angela Coleman has been a mainstay for Wood River during its early-season volleyball matches. Photo by David N. Seelig

Coach Wendy Johnson's Idaho Falls Tigers were nearly unstoppable winning three consecutive Idaho 5A volleyball championships from 2003-05. The Tigers finished second to Eagle in last year's state final.

And Idaho Falls was unstoppable in cruising to the championship of the 28th annual Wood River Invitational varsity tournament Friday and Saturday, Sept. 19-20 on the high school hardwoods, Hailey.

Led by All-Tournament hitting star Emily Matosich, Idaho Falls (22-1) went undefeated in pool play and then knocked off, in succession, Borah of Boise 25-16, 25-18, Kimberly 25-16, 25-18 and Filer in the championship finale 25-17, 25-15.

Although 3A Filer is coached by one of Idaho's best in Ed Richards, the #3-ranked Wildcats were an underdog, especially after losing a crucial Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference match to #1-ranked Kimberly (12-3) on Thursday.

But, sparked by tournament Most Valuable Player Danielle Schaal, a junior, and All-Tournament teamer Katie Vierstra, a senior, Filer made it to the championship with straight-set wins over 4A Blackfoot, Burley and 5A Boise.

The Wildcats would probably have played host Wood River High School in Saturday's semi-final, if not for a come-from-behind 23-25, 25-19, 15-8 victory by two-time defending champion Boise over the Wolverines (9-6). The loss snapped Wood River's five-match home winning streak.

Coach Tim Richards' Wolverines, undefeated winners of one of the three pools along with Idaho Falls and Timberline of Boise, was victimized by Boise's tips and blocking, and let down by their defense in the match against #4-ranked Boise.

In pool play, Wood River advanced with three wins—25-18, 25-19 over Kimberly, 25-12, 25-16 over Mountain Home, and 20-25, 25-17, 15-11 over Borah.

Rounding out the All-Tournament team were Wood River senior Kaylee Baker, Madison Curtis of Mountain View, Mariah Smith of Timberline and Scottie Christie of Borah. There were 15 schools in the two-day tournament.

Here are scores of the single elimination bracket, held after the completion of pool play:

Upper bracket: Boise 25-15, 25-20 over Mountain View; Filer 25-22, 25-18 over Blackfoot; Burley 25-23, 25-17 over Mountain Home; Boise 23-25, 25-19, 15-8 over Wood River; Filer 25-22, 25-17 over Burley; and Filer 25-21, 25-16 over Boise (semi-final).

Lower bracket: Borah 25-20, 25-13 over Hillcrest of Idaho Falls; Bishop Kelly of Boise 25-20, 18-25, 15-8 over Timberline; Kimberly 25-18, 24-26, 15-8 over Payette; Idaho Falls 25-16, 25-18 over Borah; Kimberly 25-14, 25-22 over Bishop Kelly; and Idaho Falls 25-16, 25-18 over Kimberly (semi-final).

Championship: Idaho Falls 25-17, 25-15 over Filer.

Two-time defending Great Basin Conference West tournament champion Wood River, ranked second in the Idahosports.com 4A volleyball poll, traveled to Burley Tuesday night in a rematch of last year's Great Basin title match. Then, on Thursday, Wood River entertains Minico of Rupert in another big league challenge.




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