3A DISTRICT 1-2 VOLLEYBALL: Priest River advances to championship with historic upset of Kellogg
The Priest River High volleyball team is all smiles after defeating top-seeded Kellogg on Friday in a 3A Central Idaho League district semifinal match. Back row, from left are Rylee Dixon, Aleigha Jensen, Desi Humphrey, McKinley Burgess-Duquette, assistant coach Addisen Kingery, Kenadie Kingery, assistant coach Lindsay Troudt, Paityn Yount and head coach Katlyn Ward. Front row, from left are Jayda Storro, Callie Stanger, Toni Marinello, Alexis Scott and Raygn Turner.
(Courtesy Photo)
Priest River 3, St. Maries 0
Priest River 3, Kellogg 1
KELLOGG — At Andrews Gym on Friday, No. 4 Priest River, after sweeping No. 5 St. Maries (31-29, 25-17, 25-15) in a loser-out match earlier in the day, rallied to a four-set win over No. 1 Kellogg (25-23, 25-19, 11-25, 25-18) to advance to the 3A Central Idaho League district championship match.
Against Kellogg, down 11-1 in the first set, the Lady Spartans scored 16 of the next 21 points to take a 17-16 lead, eventually rallying to the set win. In the second, Priest River led 7-2 early, and 19-14 late as they surged to another set victory. While things may have not gone the Lady Spartans' way in set three, it was all Priest River in the fourth as head coach Katlyn Ward and her team jumped out to a 15-5 lead and never looked back.
"We went in knowing Kellogg would be a challenge and were ready for it," Ward said. "The girls' goal was to peak at districts and they are achieving that goal — they are on fire."
On offense, senior Desi Humphrey had nine kills, three aces and 19 digs on defense to lead the way. Senior Paityn Yount added three aces, sophomore Raygn Turner 22 digs, junior Jayda Storro 10 assists and a block. Sophomore Callie Stanger also registered nine assists, junior Kenadie Kingery a block for the Lady Spartans, which lost to Kellogg in both of their regular season matches before defeating them Friday.
Against St. Maries earlier in the day, the Lady Spartans won a 31-29 first-set thriller to start things off. In sets two and three, Priest River never trailed en route to a sweep of the Lady Lumberjacks.
On offense, Humphrey led the way with eight kills while also contributing 11 digs on defense. Storro added 16 assists, an impressive six aces, and seven kills while Turner produced seven kills, 12 digs, and two blocks. Stanger added seven assists, junior Toni Marinello 13 digs in the win.
"I don’t know how long it’s been sense we have played in the district championship, but it’s been long enough that none of the girls on the court have been in one," coach Ward said. "I'm so extremely proud of these girls."
Priest River (10-8) will play Grangeville for the district title Saturday (noon) at Andrews Gym in Kellogg. If victorious, the Lady Spartans will advance to the 3A state tournament. If not, they will face the winner of Kellogg/Orofino for a chance at moving on to a 3A state play-in game.