Skyview volleyball was already one of the nation’s best. Now it’s a repeat state champ
Adversity remains a rare sight for the Skyview High volleyball team.
The Hawks received a taste of it at the 5A state tournament Saturday, dropping their first set to an Idaho opponent all season. But it couldn’t faze Skyview, which regrouped and continued to prove why it’s one of the most dominant teams in Idaho’s recent history.
The Hawks (36-2) repeated as 5A state champions Saturday, topping Madison (32-9) in four sets in the semifinals before sweeping the Bobcats 25-16, 25-15, 25-13 in the championship match at Coeur d’Alene High.
The state title is Skyview’s fourth in the past six seasons, including a pair of 4A titles in 2016 and ‘17. But this year’s team could stand as the most decorated of them all, entering the week as the No. 13 team in the nation in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association/USA Today rankings.
No Skyview team has ever climbed that high before.
“We have a lot of next-level kids, who have played a lot of volleyball, who are experienced and who are intelligent,” Skyview coach Kevin Murphy said. “They know how they’re supposed to play and how to play together. They are a special group.”
Senior outside hitter Eden Bower headlines that group. A knee injury sidelined her two years ago, forcing her to become a spectator as the Hawks finished second the last time North Idaho hosted the state tournament. The 6-2 BYU commit erased some of those memories Saturday, using her size and unmatched power to dominate the finals with 21 kills, an ace, nine digs and three blocks.
But the Hawks didn’t bring home another banner on the back of Eden Bower alone. Sophomore outside hitter Alex Acevedo — an Oregon commit — added 15 kills, two aces and 19 digs. Sophomore setter Alex Bower chipped in six kills, 37 assists and 10 digs. And sophomore libero Melissa Eyer had 16 digs.
That bevy of heavy hitters puts Skyview among the nation’s best.
“Our two pins, they are just different,” Murphy said. “They are really tough. What’s really good about our team is even when we get out of our system, we have enough kids for someone to take a big swing on it.
“… It’s rare we don’t have a big swing coming, and it wears teams down.”
Madison learned that firsthand Saturday. Already warmed up after dispatching Eagle (34-9) in the third-place match, the Bobcats took early control of the first set in the finals. But then they ran into the Skyview buzzsaw and never seriously threatened the rest of the night.
“Madison played great, and we were still able to have a comfortable lead in every game,” Murphy said. “We passed, we served, we swung well. We played a really complete game.”
HORSESHOE BEND BACK ON TOP
The Mustangs capped an undefeated season with their third state title in five years, sweeping Rockland 25-10, 25-19, 25-20 in the 1A Division II finals at Lewiston High.
Horseshoe Bend (35-0) only dropped two sets all season. But the best may still lie ahead for the Mustangs, who field three sophomores and a freshman in their starting lineup. A sophomore right side hitter is also the first one off the bench, making the Mustangs a contender for years to come.
“We have a super young team,” Horseshoe Bend coach Sharsti Moore said. “This group just loves volleyball. They come in 30 to 45 minutes before practice, then they are begging to stay after our 2-hour practice. They put in time, the effort, all that it takes to get here.”
Sophomore Annelie Wilson led the Mustangs once again. The 6-1 middle blocker racked up 14 kills, 11 digs and three aces in the championship match.
Freshman setter Aliyah Meyer added 33 assists, nine digs and three aces. And senior outside Kenzie Renfro finished with eight kills, four aces and three digs.
“They do not play like freshmen and sophomores, for sure,” Moore said of Wilson and Meyer. “They play a lot of club, so that helps with experience. And they are very volleyball smart. They carry themselves as a lot older.”
Moore added the Mustangs tested themselves with a brutal schedule. But Horseshoe Bend answered the bell at every turn, only losing sets at Council and in a tournament to Ririe, a 2A state tournament qualifier.
“They had this goal in mind since the beginning of the season, as does everyone,” Moore said. “But going to the tough tournaments, playing the Melbas, the Nampa Christians, the Riries, it really set us up to go against that tough competition.
“Our girls just showed up to play and took care of business.”
Council (19-7), another Long Pin Conference team, brought home the third-place trophy.
- TWIN FALLS WINS FIRST TITLE: The Bruins (24-9) topped perennial power Bonneville in five sets (22-25, 25-23, 17-25, 25-20, 15-10) for the first state championship in program history. No 4A SIC teams won a trophy.
- SUGAR THREE-PEATS IN 3A: Perennial juggernaut Sugar-Salem won its third straight state title and its fifth in the past six years by sweeping Parma 25-13, 25-21, 25-14. The undefeated Diggers (39-0) didn’t drop a single set at the 3A state tournament. Parma (23-6) brought home the runner-up trophy, its best finish since 2013. Fruitland (28-8) finished fourth.
- WEST SIDE GOES BACK-TO-BACK: The Pirates (31-4) swept Melba 25-22, 25-16, 25-11 to repeat as 2A state champs. Melba (28-7) was searching for its first state title but will settle for a second-place trophy. Nampa Christian (17-9) finished third for the second straight year.
- TROY WINS AGAIN: The Trojans (24-3) swept Grace 25-12, 25-15, 25-12 in the 1A Division I finals, bringing home the 13th state title in program history and fourth in the past six years. No Treasure Valley team won a trophy at the tournament.
