Volleyball preview: Ranking the preseason favorites, contenders and sleepers in 5A, 4A SIC
Few programs in any sport have mounted a run as dominant as Skyview has in volleyball.
The Hawks captured their third straight state title and 12th consecutive district title last fall. And don’t expect them to slow down any time soon.
Skyview finished as the clear favorite atop the preseason coaches’ poll in the 4A Southern Idaho Conference, joining Eagle (5A) as the favorites in the Treasure Valley’s largest divisions this season.
Read on to scout more of the region’s top teams, challengers and players.
5A SIC
1. EAGLE
Last season: 31-8, 12-0 5A SIC
Coach: Collin Hartman, seventh season
Players to watch: Delaney Bub, sr., OH; Liv Manning, sr., MB; Avery Hassman, sr., L; Teagan Scott, sr., S
Outlook: The Mustangs broke through for their first district title since 2009 last fall. Now they return four starters as the heavy preseason favorite. Eagle brings back its leader in kills (Bub), blocks (Manning) and digs (Hassman), placing the target firmly on its back. Bub earned first-team all-state honors a year ago, and she enters the season with an offer from Northwest Nazarene. The lone question comes at setter. Scott takes over after backing up Rhys Layton, but she brings strength, vision and solid defense to the position, Hartman said.
2. TIMBERLINE
Last season: 24-10-1, 9-3 5A SIC
Coach: Carol Klein, ninth season
Players to watch: Aly Cox, sr., OH/S; Ava Brickner, sr., OH; Courtney Cline, sr., MB/OPP; Gentry Powell, sr., MB
Outlook: The defending district and state runner-up returns with largely the same lineup to chase more trophies. Five starters return, including a pair of all-state selections. Cox (first team) holds a pair of college offers and was the Wolves’ leader in kills, but she also has the versatility to serve as a setter. Brickner (second team) has committed to Idaho State and offers another heavy hitter in a lineup full of them. Klein said Timberline might have even more offensive weapons than last season’s decorated squad.
3. ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Last season: 19-13-1, 10-2 5A SIC
Coach: Judyann Balukoff, second season
Players to watch: Kinsley Kollmann, sr., OH; Chloe Hansen, so., OH; Anna DaBell, sr., MB; Aubrey Evans, sr., MB
Outlook: The Grizzlies were able to sneak up on the 5A SIC last season, finishing second in the regular-season standings. But a two-and-out performance at district leaves Rocky Mountain’s five returning starters hungry for more. Kollmann, a second-team all-league pick, and Hansen give Rocky two heavy hitters on the outside, and the duo of DaBell and Evans poses a problem for opponents in the middle. Balukoff said Rocky Mountain should remain strong on defense, but it needs to focus on more quality serves to contend in October.
4. OWYHEE
Last season: 19-13, 9-3 5A SIC
Coach: Michelle Dodds, third season
Players to watch: Kaiya Gerhardt, jr., OH; Mikale Roy, jr., OH; Shaynee McWilliams, jr., S; Katelyn Markley, sr., MB
Outlook: The Storm made it to state last year as a sophomore-led squad. Now Owyhee is back ready for another trip with six returning starters. Roy, a first-team all-conference pick, remains one of the Treasure Valley’s most feared hitters. She and Gerhardt give McWilliams two bona fide aces to feed. Another year leaves Owyhee another year stronger and more experienced, making the Storm a potential dark horse in the 5A SIC.
5. MOUNTAIN VIEW
Last season: 15-9, 8-4 5A SIC
Coach: Ryan Hofmann, fourth season
Players to watch: Tenesyn Frye, jr., S; Kennedy Coleman, jr., L
Outlook: The Mavericks lost conference player of the year Sierra Grizzlie to the University of Wyoming. But Mountain View returns six other starters after falling one win short of making it to state. Frye leads the group as the head-turner. She’s the No. 4 setter in the country in the class of 2025, according to PrepVolleyball.com, and she’s already committed to Houston. She’ll keep a crew of athletic and quick Mavericks in rhythm, setting them up for easy strikes.
6. CENTENNIAL
Last season: 15-8, 8-4 5A SIC
Coach: Alli Rust, first season
Players to watch: Eliana Ti’a, jr., OH; Lily Hoellwarth, sr., OH; Liberty Ipsen, jr., S; Paige Cleverly, jr., S
Outlook: Even after losing Ti’a to a knee injury in the final regular-season game, the Patriots made a run to fall one win shy of making it to state for the second year in a row. But Tia is back to lead five returning starters looking to finally break through. The Patriots will have loads of weapons led by Ti’a and Hoellwarth, their top two leaders in kills. Centennial also brings back its top two leaders in assists, Ipsen and Cleverly. The 6-1 Daelyn Harris provides an imposing presence at the net, but Centennial must work in several new faces to shore up its defense.
7. BOISE
Last season: 11-11, 6-6 5A SIC
Coach: Kate Newbery, second season
Players to watch: Alivia Shepherd, sr., L; Lacey Dublin, sr., MB; Sydney Williams, sr., S
Outlook: The Brave bring back five starters from a state qualifier. Boise will once again remain scrappy defensively, keeping the ball alive and giving their hitters a chance to counter. Shepherd leads the back line as a high IQ player. She’ll pair with Williams, a new addition at setter that will ease in a new crew of outside hitters with tailor-made shots.
8. MIDDLETON
Last season: 8-10, 5-7 5A SIC
Coach: Taci Morris, fifth season
Players to watch: Sydney Short, jr., S; Laulani Cortes, sr., L; Alli Medaris, sr., MB
Outlook: The Vikings held their own in their first season at the 5A level, finishing eighth in the regular-season standings. But a district play-in loss sent Middleton home early. The Vikings look to contend again with three returning starters and a tight-knit group. Short provides a steady hand at setter, but who will receive those serves remains a work in progress after Middleton graduated all of its outside hitters.
9. MERIDIAN
Last season: 8-10, 5-7 5A SIC
Coach: Hailee Ackerman, third season
Outlook: The Warriors did not respond to the Statesman’s preseason survey.
10. KUNA
Last season: 2-19-1, 2-10 5A SIC
Coach: Taylor Gordon, first season
Players to watch: McKayla Hymas, sr., OH; Jillian Deatherage, fr., MB; Alyssa Jackson, jr., L/DS; Alyssa Miller, sr., OH
Outlook: The former 4A power found tougher sledding in 5A, where it’s yet to qualify for state in six tries. Kuna hits the reset button this fall with a new coach, and Gordon inherits a young squad made even younger after two key seniors went down with injuries. Half the lineup will be sophomores or freshmen. But Gordon said Kuna fields a tight, quick and heady group that will make opponents work for their kills.
11. CAPITAL
Last season: 5-17-1, 3-9 5A SIC
Coach: Katie Simis, fourth season
Players to watch: Finley Aschenbrener, sr., OH; Paige McKenzie, jr., RS; Amaya McLean, sr., L; Eden Francis, so., MB
Outlook: The Eagles lost seven seniors to graduation, leaving just three returning starters. Varsity experience remains in short supply. But Simis said she’s seen a more competitive drive for her team this summer. McLean leads a strong defense as a returning senior libero, and Francis provides a young middle blocker growing by leaps and bounds. The two should make Capital tougher in serve receive.
12. BORAH
Last season: 3-14-1, 2-10 5A SIC
Coach: Roseanne Brown, second season
Players to watch: Maddie Biery, sr., MB; Taylor Darrow, sr., OH; Gena Fink, so., OH
Outlook: The Lions, who haven’t qualified for the district tournament since 2019, enter another rebuilding season. Only two starters return, and youth remains throughout the lineup. But Brown said she’s impressed by Borah’s teamwork and strong hitting early in practice. Biery is back after leading the team in blocks, and Darrow and Fink provide a pair of big swingers on the outside.
13. NAMPA
Last season: 0-15, 0-12 5A SIC
Coach: Gina Radford, 10th season
Players to watch: Mia Radford, so., S; Alani Hoopii, jr., OH; Laci Karpowitz, fr., MB/OH; Milee Waite, so., L/S
Outlook: The Bulldogs took their lumps in their first season back at the 5A level, and youth remains the name of the game with seven sophomores and a freshman in the lineup. But Nampa will try to turn all those hard-earned lessons into progress with four returning starters. Mia Radford leads the group as a jack of all trades with a high IQ. She and Hoopii continue in their leadership roles as the Bulldogs seek to pull off a few upsets this fall.
4A SIC
1. SKYVIEW
Last season: 24-6, 12-0 4A SIC
Coach: Kevin Murphy, 21st season
Players to watch: Alex Bower, sr., S; Melissa Eyer, sr., L; Bellamie Beus, so., OH
Outlook: The Hawks lost Alex Acevedo, the state’s all-class Gatorade Player of the Year, when she decided to graduate early and suit up for Oregon. But don’t cry for the perennial power. Skyview still returns five starters, including three with all-state honors. Bower, a BYU commit and four-year starter, continues to run the show as a wily and dangerous setter. Eyer provides another four-year starter on the back line, and Beus proved she could shoulder the offensive load when she earned a spot on the all-state first team as a freshman. Murphy said Skyview remains tough on defense but lacks a physical element. So it will need to become more efficient on offense to maintain its spot atop the hill.
2. COLUMBIA
Last season: 31-8, 10-2 4A SIC
Coach: Cathy Curtis, 10th season
Players to watch: Khalila Salinas, sr., OH/MB; Berlyn Overturf, sr., MB/OH; Eli Deleon, sr., OPP/S; Olivia Fischer, jr., L/DS
Outlook: The Wildcats served as Skyview’s toughest foil last fall, the only Idaho team to take a set from the Hawks. Graduation cost Columbia two first-team all-state selections and four first-team all-conference selections, though. That leaves just three returning starters, but Columbia ought to remain one of the state’s top defensive clubs. Replacing all the lost offensive talent will take time, but Curtis said Columbia starts the year lacking confidence, not skill. Look for Overturf to step into a starring role after playing behind several seniors last year.
3. RIDGEVUE
Last season: 9-10, 5-7 4A SIC
Coach: Tracy Bullock, first season
Players to watch: Hollund Miller, jr., S/OH; McKenna Durrant, jr., OH; Malia McNicol, sr., MB; Ashyn Steffler, sr., MB
Outlook: The Warhawks fell one win shy of making their first state tournament last fall. But with five returning starters, Ridgevue stands poised ready to pounce should Skyview or Columbia falter. Bullock said the Warhawks feature a bevy of hitters who can put the ball away from anywhere on the court. They received reinforcements with the addition of McNicol, who missed her junior year with a knee injury. But Ridgevue remains undersized, so it will have to scrap their way to a history-making campaign.
4. BISHOP KELLY
Last season: 14-20, 7-5 4A SIC
Coach: Joline Armuth, sixth season
Players to watch: Judith Burke, sr., OH; Char Zastrow, sr., OPP; Taylor Holloway, sr., MB; Ellie Cheek, sr., MB
Outlook: A youth movement started two years ago will finally pay off as the Knights field a senior-heavy lineup. Four starters return, including Bishop Kelly’s top two hitters in Burke and Zastrow. Armuth said both continue to develop, which will make the Knights’ attack much more diverse. But Bishop Kelly must replace a two-year starting setter to feed those heavy hitters.
5. CALDWELL
Last season: 4-13, 1-11 4A SIC
Coach: Pete Kucera, second season
Players to watch: Jaidlin Berry, sr., MB; Tamar Callender, jr., S; Eva Flores, sr., OH; Kendall Green, sr., OPP
Outlook: The Cougars took a step forward last fall, bouncing back from a winless 2021 campaign to put four victories in the win column. Caldwell will keep trying to climb the conference standings with four returning starters. Kucera said the Cougars will remain aggressive at the service line, but they’ll need to find more consistency to truly contend late in the season.
6. VALLIVUE
Last season: 7-13, 4-8 4A SIC
Coach: Amber Fouts, first season
Players to watch: Ellie Leavitt, sr., OH; Hadley Gray, sr., MB; Adelina Alfonso, sr., OH/MB; Jasmyne Lupo, sr., DS/L
Outlook: A strong offseason, a new coach and five returning starters have the Falcons eyeing an underdog run in the 4A SIC. Vallivue returns a host of big hitters and blockers, which will help their back row with deflections. Leavitt and Gray lead the group as two proven big swingers. But Fouts said the Falcons start the season working on their communication on the floor to build a cohesive unit.
7. EMMETT
Last season: 5-13, 3-9 4A SIC
Coach: Jordan Dickeson, second season
Outlook: The Huskies did not respond to the Statesman’s preseason survey.
