Tigers beat Thunder in state championship game; Rigby reaches the semi-finals, Bonneville goes to the edge, Rigby comes back to stay alive

IDAHO FALLS – Day two of the IHSAA Volleyball State Championships has resulted in the elimination of nearly half of the qualifying teams.

In 3A, West Side and Firth have both bounced back after losing their first two matches. South Fremont suffered a similar fate in the 4A tournament, while Snake River was eliminated by Cole Valley Christian after avoiding their first win-or-go-home situation.

Bonneville and Pocatello are each living their last lives in 5A, as is Rigby in 6A.

Here’s what happened Friday at the 5A and 6A tournaments, held at the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls.

Idaho Falls beat Pocatello 3-1

After their wins Thursday, the Tigers and Thunder met in the second round on Friday, and Idaho Falls earned a decisive, if not dominant, victory.

Once again leaning on sophomore outside hitter Leah Thomas and senior middle blocker Emma Vollmer, the Tigers controlled the game from the open spot.

Thomas contributed seven kills in the first set, and Vollmer scored three kills and a block, leading the way to a 25-17 first set victory.

Pocatello, led by junior outside hitter Abby Lusk, fought for the second set but came up short, falling 25-22.

The Thunder were able to win the third set, 25-17, and got five kills from Lusk.

Idaho Falls took an early lead in the fourth set, on a kill and a service ace from Thomas, and they never relinquished control.

With a win meaning they would advance directly to Saturday’s semifinals, the Tigers stepped on the gas at Pocatello, getting two aces each from Thomas and senior Averi Look.

Pocatello was never able to recover from the Tiger attack and Idaho Falls claimed the fourth set 25-22.

Thomas finished the match with 19 kills, one block and two aces. Vollmer added seven kills and two blocks.

In a losing effort, Lusk paced the Thunder with 15 kills and one ace.

While liberos can often go unnoticed, both shined for her team on Thursday. Pocatello’s Adrie Johnson and Idaho Falls’ Grace Fuger made numerous diving saves while leading their team’s position.

However, Fuger won her match with Johnson, mixing in three service aces to seal the Tigers’ victory in the second set.

Twin Falls beat Bonneville 3-1

In a match where the two teams combined for 19 service aces, the Bees had a tough enough returning save. They also wrestled the Bruin block and 6-foot-4 Ava Martin.

Martin recorded just two of her team’s six blocks, but she seemed to be able to get her hands on almost every Bonneville attack she challenged. She added 12 murders.

The Bees overcame an early deficit in the first set and had a chance to take the opener, but couldn’t finish and saw Twin Falls take the win, 28-26.

The second set was not exciting, as Skylar Westburg from Twin took over. The senior guided her team to a 25-13 set victory.

Bonneville turned the tide in the third inning behind offensive leader Shayla Belnap to take the score 25-23.

Another tight set went the way of the Bruins, who won the match with a 26-24 victory in the fourth set.

Four different Bruins scored at least one ace, with Millie Western’s five leading the way.

Westburg finished the match with 11 kills. Belnap led the Bees with 19 kills and one block.

Rigby eliminates Eagle 3-2

Rigby made several magical comebacks to survive Friday’s elimination.

After falling 3-0 to Skyview on Thursday, the Trojans faced elimination when they trailed 2-0 late in the third set. But a late rally, which included a review that overturned what initially looked like a set point for Rigby, saw the Trojans take a stimulating set win of 29-27.

They came back again in the fourth set to win the score 25-20, forcing a decisive 15-point fifth set. And as they had done all day, Rigby gave Eagle an early lead but refused to relent.

Ultimately, the Trojans gave Eagle the final blow with a 15-11 set-five victory.

That reverse sweep to advance in the playoff atmosphere.
What a comeback from the @RHSTrojanen not only were they two sets down to zero, they were also down in the third, fourth and fifth sets. #idpreps pic.twitter.com/28akiZhC1a

— Kalama Hines (@HINESight_2020) November 1, 2024

Madison beats Owyhee 3-0

Madison joined the undefeated 2-0 Clubs and will face Skyview Saturday morning for advancement to the 6A finals.

The Bobcats swept aside the Storm, 25-16, 25-17, 29-27.

East Idaho Sports will be at the Mountain America Center to cover the remaining games: Bonneville-Wood River, Rigby-Owyhee and Pocatello-Lakeland.