ORDER GAME PHOTOS

A new season of volleyball brings new rosters, new coaches, and a shakeup in school classifications.  The 5A and 4A levels will be considerably different with perennial powerhouse Skyview moving back to 4A.  The Hawks have been in the state championship match every year for seven straight seasons, winning at the 5A level in 2020 and 2021, and the 4A title in 2016 and 2017.  With the opening of the top spot in at 5A, many schools hope to step up into that position.

CLASS 5A

Madison is no stranger to playing the last Saturday of the season, as they have been at the State tournament the past four years with their most recent title coming in 2018.  They are ranked first in the Idahosports.com coaches’ poll and will return strong leadership with several outstanding seniors, including Kinley Kerbs, Mariah Wilson, Charli Cook, and Maddi Wilcox. 

Also contending from Eastern Idaho will be Thunder Ridge, who was voted into a 3-way tie with Owyhee and Mountain View for 4^th place in the poll. 

Add in Eagle out of District 3 and there will be a tight race for the district title between the Mustangs, Mavericks and Storm. 

Up north, Post Falls is ranked 3^rd and that matches their finish at last year’s state tournament.  The Trojans will push their league opponents and be a threat to the teams from the south for this year’s title.

CLASS 4A

It’s rare to have two defending state championship teams in the same classification, but that’s what is happening at the 4A level this season. 

Twin Falls won the 4A banner in 2021, while Skyview won it for the 5A level.  Skyview is ranked first in the coaches’ poll and for good reason. 

From last year’s championship roster, Coach of the Year Kevin Murphy returns eight players.  Alex Bower and Alex Acevedo were both 1^st team All-State and All-Conference.  Coach Murphy has big shoes to fill with 5A Player of the Year Eden Bower graduating and playing at BYU.  This is a team that knows how to win and has a storied history of 1^st place trophies.  They might be moving to a different classification, but they are looking for the same result, a state championship trophy and banner.

Twin Falls, the other defending state champion team, is poised to interrupt Skyview’s path to another banner.  Coach Jacelyn Hawkins is returning six starters, three of whom made the All-State teams in 2021.  Juniors Kadence Boyd and Cierra Bohrn join senior Camile Collins on a Bruins team filled with experience that is hungry for another trophy at state.

Another powerhouse team and no stranger to the state tournament is Bonneville.  The Bees are also bringing back six strong starters from last season.  Leading the offense is junior setter and first team All-State member, Kaylie Kofe.  Anchoring the defense will be libero Aspen Anderson, who is returning after being injured during the 2021 season.  Ally McDaniel and Ava Arfman will look to be threats at the net and provide the experience the Bees need to be contenders at the state tournament.

Century and Columbia round out the top 5 rankings and look to be competitive in their districts. 

Up north, Moscow is favored but will be pushed in league play.  They play in the combined Inland Empire League, which is 4A/5A.  With five returners from their 4^th place finish in 2021, the Bears will be led by Morgan Claus who was voted the IEL MVP and a nominee for the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame 5A/4A Girls Volleyball. The Bears expect to be the top seed from District I/II.

CLASS 3A

Consistency is crucial to success in volleyball and the Diggers of Sugar-Salem have it figured out.  In the past seven state tournaments they have placed first 5 times and second 2 times.  They have been voted the top team in the coaches’ poll at the start of this season and look to finish on top at the end of the season.  Coach of the Year Cami Dodson needs to replace 5 All-State seniors, but will have no trouble filling those spots.

Battling it out in District III will be Fruitland, Parma, and Weiser.  Fruitland brings back four senior starters; Ellie Baker, Ava Dressen, Lexi Barnes, and Kennedy Phillips.  Last year the Grizzlies were conference champions, district champions and 4^th at state.  They are also bringing in 6’0 freshman Brooke Hardy who is powerful, versatile, and looking to help make an impact on the court right away.

Weiser and Parma both bring back strong rosters this season and are no strangers to the tight competition in their district.  Weiser has eight girls from last season with a lot of maturity and experience.  First team All-conference members Jasi Yraguen and Mattie Shirts will lead the Wolverines as they challenge Fruitland for a district title.

Kimberly, South Fremont, and Snake River round out the top 5 teams in the coaches’ poll for the start of this 2022 season.

CLASS 2A

Back-to-Back state champion West Side is prepped for a three peat in 2022.  The Pirates return senior outside hitter Abby Fuller and setter Laney Beckstead, both first team All-State performers a year ago.  Joining them will be Natalie Lemmon, Paige Comeau and Samantha Roberts, all seniors and starters.

Coach MeLinda Royer knows what her team is capable of and says she “has a very talented team that are amazing individuals on and off the court.”  West Side is a heavy favorite for another state title this season.

There are few teams ready to push West Side out of the top spot, one of them being Cole Valley Christian.  Karly Clark, a junior outside hitter, leads a young and talented team.  There is only 1 senior in the program, but plenty of returning juniors.  Hadley Fraas, Sam Simonson, and Addison Herbek will be joined by Cody King, a transfer from Nampa Christian.

Another team returning from the state tournament in 2021 is Declo, with 7 spots to fill on their roster.  It looks to be a rebuilding season for coach Zenna Heward and the Hornets.

Melba and Nampa Christian rounded out the top 5 in the preseason poll.

CLASS 1A DI

Familiar names top the coaches’ poll for the 1A DI classification.  Troy and Genesee are all-too-familiar foes who have alternated as state and district champions.  The Bulldogs of Genesee will rely on veteran players led by Makenzie Stout who made 1^st team All-State last season.  Head coach Pete Crowley brings back six of six starters from a team that finished third at the state tournament in 2021.  “This is one of the most experienced teams I’ve had in a while, so I look for them to make a push toward the top of the league and hopefully state by the end of the season,” says Crowley.  To do that, they’ll have to get past top ranked Troy and a couple of teams from down south.

District IV has a lot of competitive teams with Murtaugh and Oakley ranked in the top 5 and both teams made it to the state tournament in 2021.  Joining the 1A DI scene in District IV will be Carey and Hansen, both who made it to state in the 1A DII tournament. 

CLASS 1A DII

2022 will be an exciting season for volleyball at the 1A DII level.  Tied for first place votes are Horseshoe Bend and Rockland, and for good reason.  Finishing first and second at the state tournament in 2021, respectively, both teams are also returning five starters on their rosters.

Horseshoe Bend is young, but experienced.  Head Coach Sharsti Moore will start four players, all who earned All-State honors, including 1AD2 Player of the Year junior Annelie Wilson.  Joining Wilson will be Abby Howerton, Aliyah Meyer and Torey Tschida.  The Mustangs only lost three seniors last year, so their returning eight players are “as solid as they come,” says coach Moore.  The team motto is “Stay Hungry, Stay Humble” and Coach Moore hopes it will help her team to understand the target on their backs as defending state champions.  She wants her young team to stay focused and continue to improve each day.

Rockland is ready to challenge the defending champs and have an impressive roster of their own.  Tayler Wilson earned 1^st team All State honors and will lead the Bulldogs.  Joining Wilson will be Adelaide Wilson, Calyn Permann, Emma Jensen and Kloee Tomkinson.  The team has a big hole to fill with Kiersley Boyer graduating, but Coach Suzanne Wilson has multiple players contributing to replace Boyer’s production.  Coach Wilson will rely on setter Calyn Permann to run a balanced offense with more hitting options.  Using multiple hitters will help the Bulldogs stretch opponent defenses and challenge teams for top district honors.

Knocking on the door in the rankings are Mackay, Leadore and Council.  Mackay also has an experienced roster with 6 returning starters, five who are seniors.  Leading the Miners will be senior Megan Moore and junior Kaydence Seefried.

Council is expecting to be competitive and bring in a new setter, Rhianna Iverson.  Isabelle Eppich and Hope Zollamn give this athletic team the experience needed to be a top team out of District III.