Volleyball preview: Ranking the Boise area’s best from top to bottom in 6A, 5A SIC

Skyview volleyball has reigned supreme in Idaho for years, winning four straight state championships and 13 consecutive district titles.

But coaches see a potential shift in power in 2024, as Owyhee edged Skyview for the top spot in a 6A SIC preseason poll. The Storm received six first-place votes and 160 total points, while the Hawks had seven first-place votes and 152 points.

With Skyview’s move to the state’s largest classification, Middleton assumed the position of favorite in the 5A SIC.

Read on to scout more of the region’s top teams, challengers and players.

6A SIC

1. OWYHEE

Last season: 26-9, 10-2 5A SIC

Coach: Michelle Dodds, fourth season

Players to watch: Mikale Roy, sr., OH; Makaiya Gerhardt, sr., OH; Shaynee McWilliams, sr., S; Reese Meier, so., RS

Outlook: Owyhee earned a runner-up finish at the 5A District Three Tournament last season and was one of the last four teams standing at state. With the return of six starters, the Storm are now a narrow favorite to unseat perennial power Skyview. Expect a powerful attack with Roy and Gerhardt each garnering all-state recognition a year ago and McWilliams back to run the offense once again. Dodds cites serving and passing as two of the Storm’s areas of strength.

2. SKYVIEW

Last season: 29-6, 12-0 4A SIC

Coach: Kevin Murphy, 22nd season

Players to watch: Bellamie Beus, jr., OH; Elizabeth Bower, so., L/OPP; Kensie Seward, DS/L

Outlook: The Skyview program has been nothing short of a dynasty, with 13 consecutive district championships and four straight state titles between the 5A and 4A classifications. The Hawks petitioned up to compete in the state’s largest classification this season, but it will be a new experience for the majority of the roster. Only two starters return, while 12 of the Hawks’ 15 players are newcomers. Beus, a reigning all-state first-teamer, will be a force after contributing 529 kills, 247 digs and 32 blocks a year ago.

3. ROCKY MOUNTAIN

Last season: 29-13-1, 8-4 5A SIC

Coach: Judyann Balukoff, third season

Players to watch: Chloe Hansen, jr., OH; Katelynn Morrison, so., S; Makenzie Frith, sr., S; London Armstrong, jr., OH

Outlook: The 2023 state-qualifying Grizzlies should have an enviable offense with the return of experienced setters Morrison (584 assists, 48 aces) and Frith (504 assists, 42 aces) along with all-state honorable mention Hansen, who led the team with 74 aces to go with 267 kills and 42 blocks. Armstrong led Rocky in hitting efficiency and contributed 220 kills and 38 blocks. Balukoff emphasized serving as an area where the Grizzlies would like to improve.

4. EAGLE

Last season: 34-5, 11-1 5A SIC

Coach: Ashley Holt, first season

Players to watch: Maija Howse, sr., OH; Masina Wooley, sr., MB

Outlook: Changes are afoot at Eagle, where Holt begins her first season at the helm. The Mustangs locked up back-to-back 5A District Three Tournament championships and a runner-up finish at state last season, but they lost five of seven starters to graduation. They’ll rely heavily on Howse, who has signed with Purdue, after she picked up first-team all-state honors last season. Wooley is Eagle’s only other returning starter, leading Holt to believe the Mustangs will lean on their offensive experience in 2024.

5. CENTENNIAL

Last season: 12-10-2, 7-5, 5A SIC

Coach: Alli Rust, second season

Players to watch: Eliana Ti’a, sr., OH; Daelyn Harris, sr., MB; Liberty Ipsen, sr., S; Paige Cleverly, sr., S

Outlook: There will be no shortage of experience on the Patriots’ roster with the return of five starters and eight seniors. Two of those players — Ti’a (Washington State) and Harris (Idaho State) — have signed to play at the next level. Ti’a will be Centennial’s wildcard after missing all of last season with an ACL injury and could be a contender for the league’s player of the year. Rust says team chemistry should be a key area of strength.

6. MOUNTAIN VIEW

Last season: 18-14-1, 8-4 5A SIC

Coach: Ryan Hofmann, fifth season

Players to watch: Tenesyn Frye, sr., OH; Sydney Hyde, sr., MB; Racquel Gauna, jr., OH

Outlook: Mountain View came a win short of qualifying for the state tournament last year and hopes to make its return in 2024. Four starters are back, but the rest of the Mavericks’ roster is new to the varsity level. Frye will be difficult to contain if the Mavericks can feed her the ball. The Houston commit is an all-around threat, tallying 378 kills, 437 assists, 237 digs, 69 blocks and 44 aces last season. Hofmann says Mountain View should have an elite block.

7. TIMBERLINE

Last season: 27-11-2, 10-2 5A SIC

Coach: Carol Klein, 10th season

Players to watch: McKenna Satterfield, so., S; Lily Meservier, so., OH; Taite Boren, sr., L; Ava Logan, sr., MB

Outlook: Timberline will have a very different look after the graduation of 11 seniors and not a single starter back from last season’s state-qualifying team. Satterfield steps into a starting role after serving as a backup setter on last year’s squad. Klein likes the versatility of her players and anticipates they will be strong defensively.

8. BOISE

Last season: 13-11, 7-5 5A SIC

Coach: Kate Newbery, third season

Players to watch: Addie Belt, sr., OH; Kennedy Dunn, jr., OH; Kya Hueth, jr., MB/OH

Outlook: Boise welcomes eight new players to its varsity roster, but it will have a solid foundation to build from with the return of four starters. Belt, a six-rotation lefty, Dunn and Hueth provide the Brave plenty of power on offense. However, Newbery says establishing team chemistry early will be essential to their success.

9. CAPITAL

Last season: 9-13-1, 4-8 5A SIC

Coach: Katie Simis, fifth season

Players to watch: Paige Mckenzie, sr., RS/OH; Ava Walker, sr., S/RS; Eden Francis, jr., MB; McKenna Chavez, jr., OH

Outlook: The Eagles will use two setters this season, allowing Walker to hit when she’s in the front row. Capital returns five starters, of which Mckenzie, Walker, Francis and Chavez combined for 383 kills last season. Simis expects that experience at the net to translate to a consistent offense, but making strides on defense will determine how far Capital can go.

10. MERIDIAN

Last season: 4-12, 2-10 5A SIC

Coach: Hailee Ackerman, fifth season

Players to watch: Paislee Shaw, jr., OH; Kate Perry, fr., OH; Kali Lewis, fr., S

Outlook: Shaw led the Warriors in kills last season, and she is one of five returning starters who will give Meridian the experience it needs to make strides in conference play. A pair of freshmen — Perry and Lewis — are expected to contribute right away. Perry is an all-around threat, while Lewis can set and hit, if needed. Ackerman says serving should be among the Warriors’ strengths.

11. RIDGEVUE

Last season: 12-12, 8-4 4A SIC

Coach: Tracy Bullock, second season

Players to watch: McKenna Durrant, sr., OH; Holland Miller, sr., S/OPP; Brooklynn Page, sr., OPP; Emma Bratvold, sr., S

Outlook: The transition to the state’s largest classification will be a challenge, but the Warhawks can lean on five returning starters. Both Durrant and Miller earned all-conference recognition a year ago, with Durrant contributing 112 kills, 181 digs and 21 aces, while Miller had 218 assists, 89 kills, 150 digs and 22 aces. Ridgevue added a jump and agility trainer to its practice routine, which Bullock hopes will translate to more power on the court.

12. KUNA

Last season: 5-20-1, 2-10 5A SIC

Coach: Taylor Gordon, second season

Players to watch: Sophie Thorne, jr., S; Afton McRae, jr., OH/RS; Alyssa Jackson, sr., L/DS

Outlook: The Kavemen move into a new era with the graduation of eight seniors. Despite taking their lumps the last few seasons, Gordon anticipates her team will buy in even more to her program in her second season at the helm. Kuna does welcome back five starters, but the Kavemen will have a largely young roster with lots of sophomores and a few incoming freshmen.

13. BORAH

Last season: 2-17-1, 2-10 5A SIC

Coach: Roseanne Brown, third season

Players to watch: Genevieve Fink, jr., OH; Madi Newsom, sr., L; Emma McKinney, jr., S

Outlook: Fink headlines a core group of four returning starters and produced 116 kills, 88 digs and 18 aces as a sophomore last season to earn all-conference honorable mention recognition. Newsom and McKinney will serve as first-year captains with the aim of helping the Lions qualify for the district tournament for the first time since 2019. Brown says defense will be Borah’s backbone.

5A SIC

1. MIDDLETON

Last season: 23-10, 7-5 5A SIC

Coach: James Berston, first season

Players to watch: Sydney Short, sr., S; Nola Bondarczuk, jr., MB/OH; Zoey Blackwell, jr., OH

Outlook: Middleton was one win away from qualifying for the state tournament in the state’s largest classification last year, and the Vikings move down a level in 2024. Although Berston begins his first season at the helm, the cupboards aren’t bare. Four starters return from last year’s team, and he’ll have a senior setter in Short on the court to guide the offense. Berston says depth will be a strength.

2. COLUMBIA

Last season: 15-11-2, 9-3 4A SIC

Coach: Cathy Curtis, 12th season

Players to watch: Olivia Fischer, sr., L; Taylor Wirtz, sr., S; Camila Salinas, so., OH; Mia Barrios, sr., MB

Outlook: Columbia has played in the 4A District Three Tournament championship game the last three seasons, including winning the title in 2021. But the Wildcats missed out on state last year after falling to Vallivue in the second-place district match. Four starters are back from that team, including all-conference honorable mention libero Fischer (171 digs) and setter Wirtz (322 assists). Curtis says defense will be the Wildcats’ strength as they look to build their offensive production.

3. BISHOP KELLY

Last season: 7-18-1, 5-7 4A SIC

Coach: Aaron Peters, first season

Players to watch: Madi Hudspeth, so., OH; Lauren Fettic, sr., S/RS; Regan Glenn, sr., OH/RS

Outlook: Bishop Kelly enters the 2024 season having last made the state tournament in 2017. The Knights welcome a new coach, and nearly half their roster is new to the varsity level. BK will lean on the experience of its three returning starters, particularly setter Fettic, who has signed with South Dakota for softball. Peters says defense will be a strength as the Knights focus on team growth.

4. VALLIVUE

Last season: 6-15, 3-9 4A SIC

Coach: Amber Fouts, second season

Players to watch: Densie Child, sr., S; Brennan Fluckiger, so., MB; Daniela Alfonso, jr., OH

Outlook: Vallivue finished sixth in the regular-season standings last year, but found another gear at the district tournament, earning a spot at state. Eight seniors graduated from that team, leaving the Falcons with three returning starters. Child earned all-conference honorable mention recognition last season, contributing 185 assists and 142 digs. Fouts says Vallivue puts up a strong block and has efficient hitters when in system.

5. NAMPA

Last season: 2-15, 0-12 5A SIC

Coach: Gina Radford, 12th season

Players to watch: Mia Radford, jr., S; Milee Waite, jr., S; Alani Hoopii, sr., OH; Lylah Mendoze, sr., L

Outlook: The Bulldogs had a rough 2023 season in the state’s largest classification and are looking to rebound in 2024 with the return of nine players who started in some capacity. Setters Radford and Waite will be three-year starters, giving Nampa an experienced base from which to build its offense. Coach Radford says team chemistry is an area of strength and may help the Bulldogs make up for a lack of height.

6. CALDWELL

Last season: 10-10, 5-7 4A SIC

Coach: Mayra Rodriguez, second season

Players to watch: Tamar Callender, sr., S

Outlook: Caldwell won’t have much in the way of experience after losing 10 seniors to graduation. But having Callender back in the fold is a good place to start. The first-team all-conference senior setter dished out more than 350 assists last season and could surpass 1,000 career assists in 2024. Rodriguez says the Cougars have put an emphasis on both physical and mental strength during the offseason.