A Decade of Champions: A rare season of perfection
SANDPOINT — As if boasting four future college players, an undefeated record and a national ranking wasn’t enough, the Sandpoint volleyball team got the rare opportunity to play for the state title in the cozy and partisan home confines of Les Rogers Court.
To nobody’s surprise, the Bulldogs made mince meat of the 4A bracket, capping the season with a perfect 36-0 record, and claiming the school’s 12th championship banner.
A lot of powerhouse volleyball teams have come through the Sandpoint pipeline over the years, but a strong case could be made that this might have been the best ever.
n 2003 Sandpoint volleyball team
ROSTER: Kelsey James, Lindsey Fiedler, Kara Verby, Amy Dyck, Amy Bradetich, Traci Kutzleb, Nikki Fitchett, Allison Sletager, Devon Natoni, Zibby Keaton Kerri Wehrle, Caitlyn Free and head coach Jamie Pancho.
Led by three-time Inland Empire League Most Valuable Player and future University of Arizona standout Amy Dyck, and fellow senior leaders Devon Natoni and Allison Sletager, the Bulldogs lost just six games all season en route to the state title. At one point in the season, they were ranked No. 29 in the nation among high school teams.
After losing only once the previous year, the team set its sights on perfection, which included a championship at the prestigious Crossover Classic in Spokane. IEL Coach of the Year Jamie Pancho won his second consecutive state title, boasting a gaudy 71-1 record along the way, including 55 straight IEL match wins.
The Bulldogs swept Bonneville 25-22, 25-19 and 25-15 in the championship game before a large and loud home crowd. Future University of Idaho player Kelsey James posted nine kills, seven digs and 17 assists, Natoni added 13 kills and Sletager 11 in the final. Dyck stuffed the stat sheet in the final two games, compiling 22 kills, 10 blocks and 47 assists.
“I just have to hand it to Sandpoint — they overpowered us,” Bonneville coach Dave Albiston told the Bee. “They’re more athletic and their seniors are really seasoned. They’re really in a class of their own this year and they kicked out butt, basically.”
Along with James and Dyck, Sletager would also play in college at Boise State, and Caitlyn Free at North Idaho College.
Quote of the year: “I’m really excited because everyone is going to get a chance to see us play our best against some good competition,” Sletager told the Bee about hosting the state tournament. “I think it’s going to be extremely intense because it’s at home, and we want to prove to everyone that we do deserve all these state championships.”
See tomorrow’s Daily Bee for yet another three-peat, as the 2003 wrestling team claims its third title in a row and the second of Sandpoint’s three state titles in 2003.