Clark Fork volleyball struggles in Genesee tournament on Saturday

by Dylan Greene Sports Editor
| October 8, 2019 1:00 AM

GENESEE — Clark Fork volleyball traveled south to compete in the Pea and Lentil Tournament hosted by Genesee on Saturday.

The Lady Cats played three matches during pool play and one consolation match in the tourney.

Clark Fork volleyball head coach Michelle Valliere said her team was looking forward to competing against tougher teams Saturday.

Unfortunately, the Lady Cats struggled and only won one set out of the four matches they took part in.

“We didn’t really play our game which seems like that happens a lot when we go down to Genesee,” Michelle Valliere said. “I don’t know what the deal is with that but it just seems to kind of happen when we go down there.”

In their first match against Logos, the Lady Cats kept the match close and won the second set but ending up losing 22-25, 25-23, 10-15.

Clark Fork battled Genesee next and fell 16-25, 8-25 and then they played Colton in the final pool play match and were shutdown 9-25, 13-25.

The Lady Cats faced a familiar foe during their consolation match in Wallace. Clark Fork beat the Miners in five sets on Sept. 17 and most recently in four sets last Thursday.

But this time Wallace got the best of the Lady Cats and defeated them 25-27, 18-25.

“The girls didn’t play as good as they have been playing,” Michelle Valliere said. “Our hitting was a little off and they didn’t show up that well.”

Senior outside hitter Ellie Kiebert led the Lady Cats with 20 kills in the tourney to earn all-tournament team honors.

Freshman setter Paige Valliere had 47 assists, senior libero Aleehia Valliere grabbed 38 digs, senior middle hitter finished with seven blocks and junior Grace Browne added four aces.

Michelle Valliere said her team needs to improve their defense and work on making better decisions as the season winds down and the team gears up for state.

“I just think a lot of the girls were just not having a good day,” she said. “It wasn’t their day for volleyball.”

Clark Fork returns home to play Kootenai 6 p.m. Tuesday.