ORDER GAME PHOTOS

We've said it before and we'll say it again: we are flying through the high school volleyball season.  This happens every year, but now that we are past the halfway point of play, things are about to get even more interesting.  We have district tournaments coming up in just a couple of weeks and this is what it all boils down to: conference matchups.

Conference play for each division is set up differently according to how many teams are in each respective conference.  It is interesting to see who will ultimately make it to state and who will unfortunately have to wait for the next season to find a way.  Records and wins always mean something, but they can also get tossed out the window when it comes to the next few weeks.  Most conferences only take one or two teams to state, so it all comes down to winning these last few games.

During this time of the season, getting the most high-quality reps you can is so important in preparation of conference tournaments and state championship runs.  Many Idaho teams got those high intensity rallies and games last week in the Durango Fall Classic and the Rocky Mountain Invitational.

Skyview attended the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas and they competed with the #1 ranked high school team in the nation.  They came out of the gates swinging hard but not holding back any firepower.  The trio of Bellamie Beus, Alex Bower, and Lizzie Bower all received accolades from the tournament for their performance, and collectively, they led the Hawks to finish 27th out of 64 of the best teams in the country.  They got to play seven grueling matches, getting those high-quality reps that will help them come home with the right mindset and ready to battle for their goals in the next few weeks.

The Rocky Mountain Invitational hosted impressive teams from all over the state of Idaho.  Qualifying for the championship bracket were eight of Idaho's elite programs, and included teams from the 2A classification all the way up to Class 5A.  Melba made it to the semifinals against a tough Rocky Mountain team, and fell just short to the host team.  The Eagle Mustangs were up against the tough Timberline Wolves in their semifinal match and found a way to defeat the Wolves in two sets.

The championship was a matchup of two familiar foes, the Mustangs and the Grizzlies.  This match went back and forth for two whole sets, but it was Eagle who earned the crown of Rocky Mountain Invitational champs this year!  This Eagle volleyball team has so much talent!

The Mustangs' roster is packed with powerful players, including Delaney Bub, Teagan Scott, Avery Hassman, Keira Adrain and Liv Manning.  These seniors lead by example and experience for this team and don't let tight set battles rattle them.  Delaney leads the way with her consistent hitting and is currently ranked fourth in all of Idaho in hitting percentage.  Although this team has many superstars, they are so fun to watch as they play together and work for each other.

Eagle understands that this preparation is needed as it's coming down to the end of the regular season and they are currently in first place in their conference and ranked second in all of Class 5A.  Madison is still leading the classification in the MaxPreps rankings, with Eagle right behind them and Post Falls following closely after that.

As you can see, the volleyball season is heating up as the last few weeks of the regular season build up to the postseason and eventually the state tournament!  We are here for it and are so excited for the upcoming struggles, battles and victories!