CFHS volleyball outlasts Lakeside in five-set thriller

PLUMMER — Going into last Saturday’s game against Lakeside, the Clark Fork volleyball team hadn’t given up a single set to a North Star League opponent — much less a single game — in over a year.

But a win is a win, and the end of the day, the Lady Cats overcame an off night and a resurgent Lakeside team to prevail in a 25-8, 27-25, 21-25, 15-25, 15-7 thriller.

“We played alright, we didn’t play our best but we stuck with it and ended up going out with a win,” Clark Fork head coach Michelle Valliere said. “We were just a little off — I’m not sure what the problem was but we weren’t hitting the best and we weren’t passing the best on easy balls that were coming back over.”

Senior Aleehia Valliere’s passing saved the day for the Lady Cats late; she finished with a team-high 22-digs playing out of the back row. Michelle Valliere singled out her play as one of the reasons Clark Fork avoided the upset.

“Aleehia did a super job passing for us,” Michelle Valliere said. “That’s really what helped us pull out the win.”

Aleehia’s younger sister Paige Valliere led the Clark Fork with 28 assists and senior Ellie Kiebert led up front with a dozen kills.

“I’m glad we won but I wish we played a little better,” Michelle Valliere added.

The Lady Cats (5-3-1, 2-0 NSL) will look to build on their perfect record in league play at Wallace on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The Miners are 1-1 in league play thus far.