Idaho Mountain Express: Improved hitting helps WRHS spikers

Friday, October 4, 2013

Improved hitting helps WRHS spikers

Borah tournament opens today

Wood River head volleyball coach Tim Richards keeps an eye on the scoreboard. Photo by Roland Lane

     Coming away from last weekend’s Bonneville-Hillcrest tournament with a ton of experience, the youthful Wood River High School varsity volleyball team jumped with energy into Tuesday’s Great Basin Conference road match at Canyon Ridge in Twin Falls.

     Wood River got outstanding hitting from senior Mary Petzke (a career-high 14 kills) and freshman Blair Radford (season-best 8 kills) in capturing the first game 25-21. The teams were tied 24-24 in the second game before the Riverhawks prevailed 25-23.

     The Wolverines led 23-21 in the third game and 16-11 in the fourth, but Canyon Ridge (15-7, 6-1 league) finished off both games 25-23, 25-16 and earned the four-set triumph. Only Twin Falls (26-6, 6-0) has beaten Canyon Ridge this season in league, so it was a positive result for Wood River (4-16, 2-4).

     Coach Tim Richards said, “The Wolverines took offensive skills they learned last weekend in Idaho Falls and really played a very good match. It was frustrating to be so close and yet not come home with a win. But offensively, we did well.”

     Besides the hitting efforts of Petzke and Radford, Wood River added three kills each by juniors Ashley Hicks (3 service aces) and Emma Poe. Junior setter Brittney Bradley had 18 assists. Defensive star was junior Ciceley Peavey with a season-best 43 digs.

     At the Bonneville tournament, Wood River dropped its first five matches in straight sets to 5A Skyline of Idaho Falls, 5A Rocky Mountain of Meridian, last year’s State 3A third-place Shelley, last year’s State 3A champion Fruitland and Sugar-Salem of Sugar City.

     Finally, Wood River started putting its offense into gear and doubled its hitting production from four kills a match, to eight kills in its final two matches. The Hailey girls went the distance in those two matches, losing in three games to Post Falls and Pocatello.

     Skyview of Nampa, last year’s State 4A third-place finisher that is considered the top 4A team this fall, won the two-day, 20-team tournament 15-25, 27-25, 15-9 in the title match over last year’s State 4A runner-up Bonneville of Idaho Falls. Great Basin Conference leader Twin Falls fell to Bonneville in Saturday’s quarterfinal.

     Wood River travels to the 18-team Borah Varsity Tournament Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5 in the new gym at Borah High School in Boise. There are three pools, with Friday and Saturday pool play featuring one game to 30 points with a 30-minute time limit.

     Today, the Hailey girls play Melba at 5 p.m., Borah at 6 p.m. and Columbia of Nampa in the 8 p.m. nightcap. On Saturday morning, Wood River meets Mountain Home at 9 a.m. and Nampa Christian at 11 a.m., then ends the day with a single elimination tournament which will be best two-of-three games, rally scoring, no cap.

     Canyon Ridge and Minico are the other GBC teams in the meet.

     The Wolverines visit Burley Tuesday, Oct. 8 and host Minico of Rupert Thursday, Oct. 10 for their Homecoming Week match. Both matches will feature the teams battling for the 3-4-5 spots in the six-team GBC. Wood River beat Burley in four games at home Sept. 17 and lost in four games at Minico Sept. 19.

Northside Conference volleyball

     Led by the hitting of Whitnee Hurless, the Camas County Mushers swept Tuesday’s road match over the host Carey Panthers 25-13, 25-12, 25-21. The Mushers also defeated Rockland in two games during the tri-meet, while Rockland downed Carey 25-21, 25-11.

     Medin Cenarrusa, Kylie Castle, Ashley Durtschi and Hailee Johnson led Carey hitters. Paige Koudelka and Lilly Rivera dug well for the Panther defense. Carey (2-12, 1-8) visited Murtaugh Thursday and hosts the Community School Monday.

     Final “Senior Night” home matches for Carey are Tuesday, Oct. 8 against Castleford and Raft River on the Panther hardwoods.

     The Community School spikers resumed action this week, falling on the road to Castleford and Richfield in Northside league action.
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