Skyview’s trio of sisters chase state title in the only season they’ll play together

It’s the Bower sisters against the world. Or perhaps the Bower girls against the rest of the state.

Actually, it just sometimes seems like that to the outside world.

The reality is that the Skyview High volleyball team has a balanced, loaded roster that mowed down its opponents as it rolled to a 16-0 regular-season record.

But make no mistake. Coach Kevin Murphy is perfectly happy having three players with the last name of Bower on his side of the net.

“They’re incredible volleyball players and they work hard,” Murphy said. “They’re talented, but they don’t stop there. They do the extra stuff that you don’t see. If we take a day off as a team, they’re doing something volleyball-wise. … They have the drive.”

[Related: 5A to 1A state tournament scores and brackets]

That drive was part of the reason that Morgan Bower, a senior libero, and Whitney Bower, a junior setter, won 4A state titles in 2016 and 2017. They have both committed to play at BYU, which is currently the No. 1 team in the nation.

This year, their younger sister, freshman outside hitter Eden Bower, was along for the ride as the Hawks jumped up to the 5A level. Although she’s the youngest, Eden has bragging rights in the height department: She’s 6-foot-2.

“It was awesome,” Murphy said. “It was so cool to be in different gyms, play against new kids and meet different coaches. It was time (to move up), and it was good for us.”

Murphy said the competition at the 4A level helped Skyview prepare for the move to 5A.

“4A is tough,” Murphy said. “It really is, and I think sometimes 4A and 5A take turns as to which one is toughest. There have been years where 4A is tougher, and there have definitely been years when 5A was tougher than 4A.”

The Hawks showed they were battle-tested and ready Friday, as they swept their opening-round match against Coeur d’Alene 25-20, 25-9, 25-16.

But Skyview fell to Madison in straight sets (25-19, 25-18, 25-21) in its second match, forcing the Hawks into the losers bracket of the double-elimination tournament. Skyview swept SIC rival Rocky Mountain on Friday evening and will need four more wins Saturday for its first 5A state title.

It’s the last time these Bowers will all play together, but they were not thinking about that Friday after the win over Coeur d’Alene.

“It’s so fun,” Whitney Bower said. “It’s the end of the season, but we’re still progressing and we’re trying to reach our potential and be the best we can possibly be.”

Of course, all three Bower sisters contributed in the win: Whitney had 14 kills and two aces, Morgan had 21 digs and Eden had nine kills. Keeping with the family theme, Murphy’s daughter, Karen, led Skyview with 16 assists.

The 5A tournament concludes Saturday at Ridgevue High School in Nampa. The final match is scheduled for 4 p.m., with an if-necessary match at 6 p.m.

Here’s what Murphy had to say about what each sister brings to the court.

• “Morgan is a four-year starter. She just has a refreshing attitude on the court, always talking, always positive. She never quits on a ball, and she never quits on a play. She’s a rock back there … and she starts the offense.”
  
  
• “Whitney is uber-competitive, and she has that rare combination that you don’t see in a lot of kids: power and quickness.”
  
  
• “Eden has been huge for us, because we needed offense and she has brought that. We lost some big hitters, so we had to have somebody come in and take those swings. She’s getting better … and I think her wingspan is 6-5. Her ceiling is so stinking high. It’s going to be fun watching her get better and better.”
  
  

This is Morgan’s last year at Skyview, so she’s making sure she’s enjoying the ride.

“We’re definitely all about the team,” she said. “But having two sisters on the court with me is just a pleasure. It’s so exciting to play side-by-side with them. … It’s really special.”

Even though Morgan will be moving on next year, there might be another Bower on the way who can take her spot on the roster. Their younger sister, Alex, is in eighth grade.

Does Eden think she will be a teammate next year?

“Oh yeah,” she said.

And although Eden is the youngest of the Bower girls on this year’s team, she’s wise enough to know she’s part of a good thing.

“Sometimes I think, ‘This is insane to have such an awesome team,’ ” she said.

Tough day for District Three

All of the 5A and 4A teams from the Treasure Valley dropped into the losers bracket Friday, leaving a long road back to the title. As of Friday evening, these local teams remained alive in the six-classification tournament: Skyview, Timberline, Rocky Mountain at 5A; Kuna, Middleton at 4A; Homedale, Parma at 3A; Nampa Christian, Cole Valley at 2A; Ambrose (winners bracket), Notus at 1A Division I; and Horseshoe Bend (winners bracket), Salmon River at 1A Division II.