Lady Cats lean on underclassmen to keep state streak alive

CLARK FORK — Head coach Michelle Valliere called last season a rebuilding year. Well, it certainly didn’t look like it.

The Clark Fork volleyball team steamrolled through the North Star League in 2019, going undefeated in league play for the second straight year en route to their third consecutive trip to state. That team was faced with the tall task of replacing six seniors and they did it with ease. This year’s squad will have to do the same, but without the leadership of a single senior.

North Star League MVP Ellie Kiebert and all-league selections Abbie Anderson and Aleehia Valliere all graduated. In total, the Lady Cats lost four starters.

Replacing the production of those players is nearly impossible, but Michelle believes her team has what it takes to get back to state.

“It’s going to be hard but ... I’m up for the challenge,” she said.

Clark Fork will lean on a trio of juniors — Katelyn Matteson, Caiya Yanik and Taylor Staley. Matteson and Yanik were significant contributors to last year’s 12-3 squad while Staley played on JV.

Matteson realizes she will need to take on a significant leadership role this season for the Lady Cats without any seniors and she has no problem doing so.

Clark Fork will also look toward a pair of stellar sophomores to keep their North Star League title streak alive. Paige Valliere, Michelle’s youngest daughter, returns after earning all-league honors as a freshman and Emily Myers is back following a promising first season. Michelle is expecting big things out of those two sophomores especially Paige.

Paige has been working with the same setting coach that Clark Fork legend Brooke Stevens trained with and Michelle has seen that aspect of her game improve tremendously. Paige said she really focused on getting stronger during the offseason in order to push the ball outside more.

Despite the uncertain times, Paige never lost motivation this summer.

“I’ve always been super dedicated to volleyball, so it was just something that was always a habit to me,” she said. “I just enjoy doing it so it wasn’t a pain.”

Paige has been playing volleyball since she was in first grade. It’s what she loves to do and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

In terms of Myers, Michelle thinks she will take a huge step forward and be a force to be reckoned with at middle blocker.

As it stands right now, the Lady Cats only have eight girls on their team. Last year, Clark Fork had 14 players which allowed them to have a JV squad but this season it looks like that won’t be possible.

Michelle believes the low turnout is the result of the spring club volleyball season being canceled. The good news is all the players on this year’s squad will be returning next fall.

The Lady Cats will also face a grueling schedule. The team will play three games a week throughout the month of September and the compacted schedule will only allow Michelle to give her players Sundays off.

Despite having a small team, Michelle isn’t worried about the players getting fatigued and neither are they.

“I’m not that worried because we’ve always had low numbers and I’ve been used to it with every sport I play,” Matteson said.

The biggest question on the court for the Lady Cats this season is who will be the standout outside hitter? With Kiebert and Anderson gone, Michelle is moving Matteson to the outside and she is confident the junior will shine.

“I feel like she could be our next Ellie Kiebert,” Michelle said about Matteson. “She’s got a super good arm swing, so if she works on our hitting a bit I think she could do a good job for us there.”

Matteson is still adjusting to her new role on the team, but she’s embracing it.

“I’m really excited because I’ve never really been a hitter so I’m trying to make the most of it,” she said.

Due to Wallace and Lakeside moving up to 1A Division I and Clark Fork petitioning to stay down at 1A Division II, only three teams will be in the North Star League this fall — Kootenai, Mullan and the Lady Cats. This will make the journey to state that much easier for Clark Fork.

Michelle said the hardest part is finding competition that will help prepare the Lady Cats for the competition they could see at state. The team plays a pair of 3A schools in Bonners Ferry and Priest River this season and will take part in the Coeur d’Alene JV Tournament as well. Michelle hopes those matches will test her teams talent and allow them to avoid going 0-2 at state for the second straight year.

Paige grew a lot during her first year on varsity and she expects that experience to pay dividends this fall. As the quarterback on the volleyball court, Paige plans on being loud and staying positive even when the team is trailing. Her attitude will be key to the Lady Cats success.

Given how young Clark Fork is, Paige feels people aren’t expecting big things from them, so she wants to prove the doubters wrong, get back to state and shoot for the title of league MVP.

The girls on the team couldn’t get any closer. Most have known each other since preschool, so you can bet the bus rides to and from games will be filled with jam sessions listening to the Lady Cats favorite songs, “I Like It” and “Hollaback Girl.”

Michelle said the versatility of her team and their ability to play multiple positions will allow her to be creative with lineups this year.

“This year it’s going to be brand new,” she said. “We’re going to have to see who isn’t scared on the court and who’s committed to playing.”

The Lady Cats open the season on their home court at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, against Bonners Ferry.