Some of the best prep volleyball teams in Idaho arrive in Hailey today, Friday for the two-day, 30th annual Wood River Invitational varsity volleyball tournament to be played at the high school gym.
Two former Wood River Invitational champions, Idaho Falls and Boise, highlight the 12-team field for today's 3-9 p.m. pool play and Saturday's double elimination championship tournament starting at 8:30 a.m.
Format is best two-of-three games to 25, rally scoring capped at 30, with the third game to 15, no cap.
In Wood River's four-team pool are last year's State 5A third-place team Borah of Boise, Kimberly and Payette. The Wolverines play Payette at 3 p.m., go against Kimberly about 5:30 p.m. and Borah at 7 p.m., all the matches on Court #1.
Coach Wendy Johnson's highly regarded Idaho Falls team, the 2008-09 Wood River Invitational champ, is grouped with Bishop Kelly of Boise, Filer and Canyon Ridge of Twin Falls. Idaho Falls plays at the same time as Wood River's matches.
In the other pool are 2006-07 Wood River winner Boise, Twin Falls, Mountain Home and the Burley Bobcats. Boise's group is on Court #1, and the Boise matches are the same times as Wood River.
Idaho Falls beat Borah in last year's title match.
Last Saturday, Idaho Falls (13-1) won the Skyline Classic tournament in Idaho Falls 25-21, 25-21 in the championship match over Snake River of Moreland. During that meet Idaho Falls lost for the first time all season, to Rigby, but avenged that loss in its climb back to the top spot.
Another strong contender at Hailey this weekend is Great Basin Conference frontrunner Twin Falls, which won its own tournament last Saturday. Former Wolverine basketball player B.J. Price coaches Twin Falls. The Bruins play today at 3:45 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Twin Falls (2-0 league) tuned up for today's tourney with a 25-21, 25-10, 25-10 Great Basin home victory over Wood River (5-6, 2-1 league) Thursday night. The Bruins started slowly and needed to rally from an eight-point deficit in the first game.
Hailey's leaders included were Ali Levy (4 kills, 3 digs), Jessica Hamilton (10 assists, 10 serves, 1 ace), Lily Richards (8 serves, 3 kills), Jade Glenn (4 kills) and Alison Gasenica (2 digs).
