5A, 4A volleyball preview: These are the top players, title contenders in the Boise area
The 2020 high school volleyball season saw its ups and downs as teams battled through a global pandemic. But it also marked a banner year for the Treasure Valley’s largest programs.
Skyview ended Eastern Idaho’s dominance at the 5A level, winning the Southern Idaho Conference’s first state title in a decade. Boise made a surprise run to the 5A state championship round. And Middleton also reached the 4A finals, its best finish since winning it all in 3A in 2005.
Do those performances mark a shift in power? Or were they an aberration?
These are the top players and teams seeking to prove it’s the former.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Eden Bower, Skyview
The latest in a line of Bower sisters headed to BYU, Eden returns for her senior year as the reigning 5A SIC Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection. The outside hitter led the Hawks in every offensive category a year ago, a feat she’ll likely repeat no matter what opposing coaches cook up to slow her down.
“Eden is an absolute stud athlete,” Eagle coach Collin Hartman said. “She is physical and a force at the net. She is incredibly fun to watch. She’s explosive, dynamic and hits harder than anyone in the conference.”
Alex Bower, Skyview
The setter stepped right in as a freshman last year and took charge of the Hawks’ offense, racking up first-team all-state and all-conference honors. Her pinpoint serves and sets keep her hitters in rhythm and never allow defenses to relax.
“She runs a dynamic offense and is a dual threat as she will contribute 7-10 points per match offensively on her own,” Boise coach Ashley Holt said.
Alex Acevedo, Skyview
The Oregon commit provides reinforcements for the defending state champs after joining the school last winter from Bend, Oregon. The 6-2 sophomore outside hitter brings length and an array of shots to the Hawks.
“She is very young but is already a top-tier, Division-I player,” Holt said. “She hits a heavy ball and has an extremely high volleyball IQ.”
Naya Ojukwu, Mountain View
The instincts, athleticism and competitive fire that made Ojukwu the all-class basketball player of the year also make her a handful on the volleyball court. The senior middle blocker frustrates opponents at the net while posing a force on offense, too.
“A high flyer and uber-athletic middle who is a great blocker and can score,” Skyview coach Kevin Murphy said. “She can change a game in a multitude of ways.”
Tara Murphy, Eagle
The senior outside hitter may not tower over opponents, but her leadership is unquestioned. And coaches throughout the conference all stand amazed by her intelligence and craftiness to find opponents’ weak spots.
“(She) is undersized but plays like a giant,” Owyhee coach Michelle Dodds said. “She has a repertoire of shots and knows exactly when to use them.”
Audrah Radford, Nampa
A reigning first-team all-state and all-conference pick, the senior outside hitter has verbally committed to Utah State and plans to graduate early to join the Aggies. She does it all for Nampa, from hammering home points to setting up teammates to scraping balls off the floor.
“She will vie for conference player of the year this year,” Middleton coach Taci Morris said.
Mylie Mills, Columbia
Her aggressiveness and quick first step prevent many balls from slipping by. The junior middle blocker imposes her will at the net and makes plays all over the court, earning her a first-team all-conference spot last fall.
“(She’s) a huge blocker in the middle and will be a big threat to our hitters,” Vallivue coach Kayla Lafollette said.
5A SIC PREDICTIONS
THE FAVORITE: Skyview remains at the head of the class in the Treasure Valley, winning 10 straight district titles between the 5A and 4A levels, then claiming its first 5A state title last fall.
The Hawks bring back an embarrassment of riches in their final season in 5A with five returning starters. They need to find a few defensive specialists to help sophomore libero Melissa Eyer and shore up their end of the court. But the combination of Alex Bower, Eden Bower and Acevedo could create an even more potent attack than the one that brought home the SIC’s first 5A state title since 2010.
THE CONTENDERS: Eagle, the defending district runner-up, returns four starters and the tools needed to challenge Skyview’s reign. Murphy heads the offense after leading the Mustangs in kills. And she’ll have a three-year starting setter, Gabbi Roberts, setting her up and directing traffic.
But opponents hone in on them at their own risk. Eagle coach Collin Hartman said he’ll have a balanced attack that will force defenses to remain honest.
Mountain View returns six starters after making last year’s state tournament. That has the Mavericks confident they can break through for a program-defining season.
Ojukwu draws most of the attention, but junior outside hitter Sierra Grizzle and junior libero Emmy Green were both second-team all-conference picks. And sophomore setter Tenesyn Frye shined as a freshman.
THE DARK HORSES: Boise made a run all the way to the state finals last year. But the Brave start the year in rebuilding mode with just two returning starters.
Senior Avary Spoja remains one of the league’s top middle blockers, and Olivia Evaro is back at setter. Holt said she expects Boise to remain potent offensively. But a cast of new faces must prove they can consistently serve receive against the SIC’s best.
Timberline enters a new era with just two returning starters after the graduation of two all-state selections (Megan Schulte, Morgan Lamb.) The Wolves may not have a lot of size to contend at the net, so coach Carol Klein said they will have to rely on pinpoint serving and a tough-nosed defense to wear teams down.
After a three-year absence from the state tournament, Centennial stands poised to make a run. The Patriots return five starters, including a strong front line of seniors London Ipsen, Madison Steel and Abbigail Draghici.
Centennial coach Heather Ward said she has the flexibility and experience to use several different arrangements. But she’ll also need to get four freshmen up to varsity speed.
Rocky Mountain opens the year in transition. The Grizzlies lost two starters when Owyhee opened, but they added junior outside/right side hitter Brielle Magnuson from Post Falls.
Continuing the theme of change, returning middle blocker Payton Treadwell moves outside and will team with sophomore Kinsley Kollmann. The trio of hitters and strong serving make Rocky Mountain multifaceted. But piecing it all together may take time.
4A SIC PREDICTIONS
THE FAVORITES: Middleton and Columbia finished tied for first in a preseason coaches’ poll. But Middleton holds a slight edge with four of six first-place votes.
The Vikings return only two starters from last year’s state runner-up, district champ and regular-season champ. Senior middle blocker Casidy Fried leads the way after making the all-state second team in both volleyball and basketball.
Middleton will have little trouble racking up points with Fried, outside hitter Reesa Whitworth and setter/right side hitter Jensyn Maughn heading a potent attack. But the Vikings must replace their entire back row.
Meanwhile, Columbia brings back five starters after last year’s heartbreaking end. The Wildcats were undefeated and tied for first place in the 4A SIC until positive COVID-19 tests led to a quarantine that ended their season.
Sisters Mylie and Maggie Mills headline the group looking to make up for lost time. They’ll pair with outside hitter Jeanice Gamez and setter Trina Williams-Suldan to make Columbia one of the teams to beat.
THE CONTENDERS: Bishop Kelly enters the year in rebuilding mode after losing its entire starting lineup to graduation. That may lead to some early struggles, but the Knights expect to threaten by the end of the year, Bishop Kelly coach Joline Armuth said.
Senior outside hitter Anna Schmautz is in her third year on varsity and brings leadership. And look for freshman outside hitter Maija Howse and sophomore setter/outside hitter Ava Armuth to quickly turn heads.
Vallivue starts with the tools to contend right away. Five starters return, including a loaded front row.
Senior outside hitter Brooke Garman stands as the go-to option and a fearsome opponent. She’ll have help from outside hitter Emily Garcia and middle blocker Joanna Osornio. If the Falcons can shore up their back row, they could be this year’s surprise.
THE DARK HORSES: After qualifying for last year’s state tournament, Nampa brings back four starters and one of the Valley’s top hitters in Radford. The Bulldogs may not have much size, but Nampa coach Gina Radford said they excel at ball control, a weapon they will need as they start the year with little proven depth and a couple of injuries.
Ridgevue also begins the season with an unproven lineup, with just two returning starters. Defense will remain the Warhawks’ calling card with middle blocker/right side hitter Paige Tolman and middle blocker Isabella Bennett, both seniors, dominating at the net. But a young lineup will need to grow up in a hurry to challenge.
