STATE VOLLEYBALL: Lakeland settles for second in 5A

IDAHO FALLS — The Lakeland Hawks nearly completed a comeback for the ages on Saturday.

After losing their tournament opener to eighth-seeded Twin Falls, the top-seeded Hawks spent the next two days battling for an underdog bracket in the 5A state volleyball tournament at the Mountain America Center.

Lakeland snapped a two-game losing streak Friday, then won three more Saturday to force a second championship game before falling again to Twin Falls, 25-21, 25-21.

“Our team showed tremendous heart and resilience throughout the state tournament,” seventh-year Lakeland coach Kelsey Badger said. “Despite a tough opening loss, they never let it define them. They battled back, match after match, with grit and determination that led them to the championship game.”

Lakeland (26-13) claimed its second state title in five years after winning its first state title in program history in 2020. The Hawks were in the state title game for the third time in program history, the first coming in 1988 when St. Mary’s won.

Lakeland opened its day Saturday with a 25-12, 25-19, 25-20 win over seventh-seeded Wood River, and the Wolverines finished fourth.

The Hawks then beat third-seeded Idaho Falls, 25-20, 24-26, 25-22, 25-12, and the Tigers finished third.

Lakeland then suffered Twin Falls’ first loss of the double-elimination tournament, 25-19, 25-13, 25-14, in the championship opener, forcing a best-of-three-set decider for the state title.

Twin Falls (20-16) won its second state title in program history, the first in 2021.

Against Wood River, senior and Weber State commit Zia Mounier had 18 kills for Lakeland. Junior Alyssa Rickman added 14 kills and nine digs, senior Landry Simon had 13 kills, 14 digs and three aces, senior Olivia Zazuetta had 43 assists, senior Eddie Jo Hocking had 18 digs, and senior Lexi Levesque had 12 digs.

Munier had 24 kills, six blocks and two aces against Idaho Falls. Simon had 17 kills and 18 digs, Rickman had seven kills, 10 digs and two blocks, Zazuetta had 48 assists, Hocking had 29 digs and Levesque had 12 digs.

Against Twin Falls in the first match of the championship, Munier had 17 kills, three blocks and two aces, Simon had nine kills and 12 digs, Zazuetta had 30 assists and three aces, Rickman had 12 kills, Levesque had 10 kills, Hocking had 15 kills.

Against Twin Falls in the title game, Rickman had seven kills and 11 digs, Munier had six kills and six blocks, Zazuetta had 11 assists and nine digs, Simon had 10 kills and Hocking had nine digs.

Under Badger, Lakeland has brought home a trophy in each of its four state tournament appearances, including fourth-place finishes in 2019 and 2023.

“We couldn’t be more proud of how each player stepped up and supported each other, showing what true teamwork is all about,” Badger said. “Every point was difficult and they left everything on the court. This team has shown that setbacks don’t hold them back, they only make them stronger. We are very proud of their performance and the dedication they brought to every game.”

STATE STUDIO VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS

At the Mountain America Center,

Idaho Falls

Owyhee d. Centennial 25-19, 25-18, 25-18 (No. 4 Centennial (31-6) fourth)

Madison v. Skyview (25-23, 14-25, 24-26, 27-25, 15-6 (semifinal)

Skyview d. Owyhee 22-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21 (No. 3 Owyhee (29-6) third)

No. 2 Madison (36-2) d. No. 1 Skyview (28-7) 20-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-21 (Championship)

At the Mountain America Center,

Idaho Falls

Lakeland d. Wood River 25-12, 25-19, 25-20 (No. 7 Wood River (23-17) fourth)

Twin Falls d. Idaho Falls 22-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-13 (Semifinals)

Lakeland d. Idaho Falls 25-20, 24-26, 25-22, 25-12 (No. 3 Idaho Falls (27-14) third)

Lakeland d. Twin Falls 25-19, 25-13, 25-14 (makes second championship game)

#8 Twin Falls (20-16) d. No. 1 Lakeland (26-13) 25-21, 25-21 (Championship)

At Lake City High, Coeur d’Alene

Fruitland at Cole Valley Christian 25-14, 25-13, 25-15 (No. 4 Cole Valley Christian (17-11) fourth)

Bear Lake v. Kimberly 25-20, 16-25, 25-12, 19-25, 15-8 (semifinal)

Fruitland at Kimberly 25-19, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22 (No. 3 Kimberly (21-9) third)

No. 1 Bear Lake (32-3) d. No. 2 Fruitland (29-5) 25-17, 21-25, 25-22, 25-19 (Championship)

In the “Memorial” sports hall, Moscow

Nampa Christian d. Ambrose 25-17, 25-22, 25-15 (No. 3 Ambrose (26-12) the fourth

Melba d. Malad 19-25, 25-22, 25-18, 22-25, 15-9 (semifinal)

Malad d. Nampa Christian (25-19, 25-16, 25-20 (#4 Nampa Christian (18-12) third)

No. 1 Melba (31-3) d. #2 Malad (31-10) 25-2, 25-19, 25-22 (championship)

At Jerome High

Oakley d. Hagerman 25-14, 25-14, 25-23 (#3 Hagerman (22-7) fourth

Butte County d. Troy 25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 25-15 (semifinal)

Oakley v. Troy 25-15, 25-19, 25-18 (No. 1 Troy 31-4) third)

Game 14 — No. 2 Butte County (42-8) d. No. 4 Oakley (25-14) 25-13, 14-25, 25-6, 25-16 (Championship)

At Canyon Ridge High, Twin Falls

Rockland at Genesee 25-20, 20-25, 25-19, 25-17 (No. 4 Genesee (26-11) fourth)

Grace Lutheran d. Horseshoe Bend 25-18, 25-22, 25-22 (semifinals)

Horseshoe Bend d. Rockland 17-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-12, 15-12 (#1 Rockland (26-7) third)

#5 Grace Lutheran (27-5) d. No. 2 Pidkova Bend (30-7) 25-23, 25-12, 25-23 (championship)