5A SIC volleyball preview: The favorites, top contenders and dark horses this fall
Skyview’s return to the 4A classification opens the door for a new district champion in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference for the first time in five years.
The mostly likely candidate to assume the league’s top spot is Eagle, which has finished as the district tournament runner-up each of the past two seasons. The Mustangs received nine of a possible 13 first-place votes to earn the title of preseason favorite in a vote of the league’s coaches.
In addition to Skyview’s departure, the state’s reclassification cycle brings Middleton and Nampa up to the 5A ranks, creating a 13-team league, the largest in the conference’s history.
The Idaho Statesman examined every team and their prospects below.
THE FAVORITE
EAGLE MUSTANGS
Last season: 34-9, 10-1 5A SIC
Coach: Collin Hartman, sixth season
Players to watch: Delaney Bub, jr., outside hitter; Madi Hauskins, sr., rightside/opposite; Rhys Layton, sr., setter; Liv Manning, jr., middle blocker
After playing in the district championship game three times over the past five seasons, this may be the year the Mustangs break through for a championship.
Eagle returns four starters but will hand the offensive reins over to senior setter Layton, who will have a bevy of hitters at her disposal.
“We are going to be balanced and keep teams on their toes, because it will be hard to key in on anyone specific,” Hartman said.
THE CONTENDERS
MOUNTAIN VIEW MAVERICKS
Last season: 26-12, 9-2 5A SIC
Coach: Ryan Hofmann, third season
Players to watch: Sierra Grizzle, sr., outside hitter; Tenesyn Frye, so., setter; Brecka Day, so., middle blocker; Abby Van Winkle, sr., outside hitter
The Mavericks’ offense is in good hands with Frye at the helm. The sophomore setter has received interest from more than 30 Division I teams after accumulating 578 assists, 149 digs and 37 aces last season.
Mountain View’s biggest challenge will be replacing five seniors, all of whom are now playing at the college level.
Hofmann expects his team to excel at serve receive and defense, which inevitably leads to a more diverse offensive attack.
TIMBERLINE WOLVES
Last season: 14-14, 7-4 5A SIC
Coach: Carol Klein, seventh season
Players to watch: Aly Cox, jr., outside hitter/setter; Piper Davis, sr., outside hitter; Ava Brickner, jr., middle blocker/rightside; Sami Bissey, sr., middle blocker
With Skyview back in the 4A SIC, Timberline is the team with the most recent district championship, winning the title in 2017 — its second in three seasons at the time.
Five starters return for the Wolves, who went two-and-out at state a year ago.
Klein anticipates her team will be strong offensively but will need to improve on the defensive side.
OWYHEE STORM
Last season: 9-15-2, 4-7 5A SIC
Coach: Michelle Dodds, second season
Players to watch: Mikale Roy, so., outside hitter; Shaynee McWilliams, so., setter; Dessa Byrd, jr., middle blocker; Kaiya Gerhardt, soph., outside hitter
In just the school’s second season, the Storm return six starters but still have a young roster — without a single senior.
Owyhee hopes to gain an edge over opponents with tough serving that can target any area of the court.
Key to the Storm’s success will be strengthening the team bond, Dodds said.
THE DARK HORSES
CENTENNIAL PATRIOTS
Last season: 15-14, 7-4 5A SIC
Coach: Heather Ward, 10th season
Players to watch: Eliana Tia, so., outside hitter; Lily Hoellwarth, jr., outside hitter; Paige Cleverley, so., setter; Liberty Ipsen, so., setter
Centennial came a win shy of qualifying for the state tournament last season despite a young roster that featured three freshmen starters. But that will pay off in the form of a more seasoned roster in 2022, as the Patriots return four starters in total.
Ward expects the Patriots will be strong offensively, but that will be predicated on the team’s ability to effectively serve receive.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN GRIZZLIES
Last season: 16-14, 5-6 5A SIC
Coach: Judyann Balukoff, first season
Players to watch: Anna DaBell, jr., middle blocker; Kinsley Kollman, jr., outside hitter; Hadley Bodell, sr., setter
The Grizzlies hit the reset button with a new coach at the helm in Balukoff. She’ll have three returning starters.
Rocky Mountain, which won its only state title in 2010, has not advanced to state since 2018. The Grizzlies’ most recent district championship came in 2016.
BOISE BRAVE
Last season: 10-9, 6-5 5A SIC
Coach: Kate Newbery, first season
Players to watch: Keely Grant, sr., middle blocker; Madison Boggess, sr., setter/rightside; Suzi Woodall, sr., setter/rightside
The Brave boast one of the most experienced rosters in the league with the return of six starters, including senior setters Boggess and Woodall, who will run a 6-2, giving Boise three hitters at the net at all times.
Injuries plagued Boise last season, Newbery said, leaving the team eager to make up for lost time.
“Our scrappy defensive specialists make the opposing team have to earn every point,” Newbery said.
MERIDIAN WARRIORS
Last season: 10-14-1, 4-7 5A SIC
Coach: Hailee Ackerman, second season
Players to watch: Malani Odgen, sr., outside hitter; Savanna Philpott, sr., libero/defensive specialist; Sophie Rice, sr., setter
Now in their second season under Ackerman, the Warriors are becoming comfortable in her system, and that’s beginning to show in offseason participation.
Although Meridian has several key players returning from injury, the Warriors expect to be tough on defense with four returning starters.
“They are hungry to learn and always looking for ways to do that,” Ackerman said.
MIDDLETON VIKINGS
Last season: 19-11-2, 12-2 4A SIC
Coach: Taci Morris, fourth season
Players to watch: Katelyn Hogan, sr., outside hitter; Lailauni Cortest, jr., libero; Sydney Short, so., setter
The Vikings move up to the state’s largest classification with just one returning starter to lean on.
But Middleton’s recent history in the 4A SIC has been competitive, with the Vikings winning two of the past four district championships.
KUNA KAVEMEN
Last season: 3-18-1, 2-9 5A SIC
Coach: Louise Kreitzer, third season
Players to watch: Eva Friedberg, jr., outside hitter; Paige Rackham, sr., middle blocker; Hailey Heindel, sr., opposite; Brylin Field, sr., setter
Although the Kavemen took their lumps last season, they will have one of the most experienced rosters this season, with the return of nine lettermen.
That experience will particularly pay off on the defensive end, where Kuna welcomes back defensive specialists Talia Jenkins, Makayla Wilson and Kallie Harlow.
“We are smarter. We are stronger. We are more patient with each other, Kreitzer said. “All the little thing we were missing last season are finally coming together for us.”
CAPITAL EAGLES
Last season: 1-19, 0-11 5A SIC
Coach: Katie Simis, third season
Players to watch: Lilly Lawrence, sr., libero; Kim Lileks, sr., outside hitter/defensive specialist; McKenzie Paige, so., rightside hitter; Mya Black, sr., middle blocker
Capital’s inexperience at setter will be offset by depth on the defensive end and the return of five starters.
The Eagles have grown in confidence and power as hitters, Simis said, which they hope translates to more wins in 2022.
“We are constantly focusing on defense because we knew that is where we can win games,” Simis said. “We are excited to see our hard work come to fruition this year.”
BORAH LIONS
Last season: 2-20-1, 1-10 5A SIC
Coach: Roseanne Brown, first season
Players to watch: Hayley Pyrah, sr., setter; Yvonne Asuega, sr., outside hitter; Madison Biery, jr., middle blocker
Three returning starters will help set the tone for first-year coach Brown, who says the Lions’ greatest strengths are grit and power.
Unlike many teams in the conference, Borah cites defense as an area that lacks consistency.
“They are scrappy and never give up,” Brown said. “We are excited to show our competitive edge with ball control and offensive attack.”
NAMPA BULLDOGS
Last season: 14-14-1, 9-5 4A SIC
Coach: Gina Radford, ninth season
Players to watch: Rykelle Sandidge, sr., setter/middle blocker; Mia Radford, fr., setter; Alani Hoopii, so., outside hitter; Milee Waite, fr., defensive specialist/libero/outside hitter
Nampa finished as the district runner-up each of the past two seasons in the 4A SIC but moves up to the 5A classification in 2022.
The Bulldogs turn to a freshman setter, Mia Radford, to help run the offense, which Gina Radford said may experience some growing pains at the 5A level.
“We have a young team but have a ton of potential,” Gina Radford said.
