CALDWELL — The Vallivue volleyball team has earned a much-deserved rest.
After playing 11 games over five hours, the Falcons put away Rocky Mountain 25-15, 25-19 in the if-necessary match to win the 5A District Three championship Thursday night at Vallivue High.
“If anyone was going to do it and play two games tonight, it was going to be these 12 girls,” Vallivue coach Michelle O’Connell said. “No doubt in my mind.”
The victory was a test of mental and physical stamina. The Falcons (18-2) had to survive five hours of competition and twice beat the two-time defending district champion Grizzlies (19-7).
In the past five years, the Grizzlies have been the class of the 5A Southern Idaho Conference, playing in four district title matches.
“I just feel like we believed in each other so much and we always had each others’ backs,” Vallivue setter Bailey Irwin said. “When we would make mistakes we would just press on. That’s really what got us through it.”
In three matches, Vallivue junior outside hitter Maddi Osburn had 38 kills, her sister Destry Osburn — a senior middle/outside — added 18 kills and six blocks and senior outside hitter Megan Church contributed 20 kills.
Irwin had 45 assists and junior setter Gabby Barker added 27 assists.
“I didn’t even realize it was that many games,” Maddi Osburn said. “I just kept focusing on playing. We all got pumped up and we played more as a team.”
After defeating Timberline in four sets to advance to the championship match, Vallivue handed Rocky Mountain a 21-25, 25-19, 19-25, 25-17, 15-6 loss to force a decisive second match to determine the district champion.
Vallivue took advantage of eight unforced errors by Rocky Mountain in the fifth game while adding kills from five different players.
Nearly two hours after the first match began, setter Barker served up an ace on match point to send the two teams into an if-necessary title match. The Falcons held on to that momentum, staying ahead from start to finish in the final two games.
SKYVIEW WINS 4A
Skyview defeated Emmett in three games to win the 4A SIC District Three tournament, led by strong defense and Hailey Cook’s 40 assists.
