Lady Wolverines end season with State tournament

Weiser’s Wolverine volleyball team made a  run at a state title late last week, coming home with the Idaho 4A State Sportsmanship award, but missing a trophy finish after taking losses to fellow District 3 teams, Cole Valley and Fruitland. 

 In between the two SRV opponent matches, the Wolverines pulled out a 3-0 win over South Fremont, 25-18, 25-14, and 25-14.

 Weiser gave Cole Valley a run for the money in the first match on Thursday, losing 3-1, 19-25, 25-23, 25-27, and 18-25.

 Wolverines team stats in the match: Madi Wilkins, 19 digs, 6 kills, 2 aces, and 18 assists; Ellie Shirts, 17 digs, and 2 aces; Adalyn Brush, 14 digs, 2 aces, and 1 assist; Kailee Lerew, 12 digs, and 1 ace; Presley Williams, 8 digs, 2 aces, and 16 assists; Lucy Hickey, 7 digs, 14 kills, and 1 block; Evie Dolton, 6 digs, 8 kills, and 2 blocks; Kamryn Doty, 4 digs, 4 kills, and 1 block; Hailey Eames, 3 digs, 1 kill, and 1 block; and Paisley Noyer, 3 kills, and 1 block.

 Statistics in the win over South Fremont: Shirts, 19 digs, and 1 assist; Wilkins, 10 digs, 4 kills, 1 block, and 10 assists; Williams, 7 digs, 2 aces, and 15 assists; Hickey, 5 digs, 7 kills, and 1 block; Lerew, 4 digs, and 1 ace; Presley Martin, 3 digs, 5 kills, and 1 block; Noyer, 2 digs, 6 kills, and 4 blocks; Doty, 2 digs, and 1 kill; Jordan Stromberg, 2 digs, and 1 ace; Brush, 2 digs, and 2 aces; Eames, 1 dig, 2 kills, and 1 block; and Dolton, 3 kills.

 The Wolverines final match against Fruitland went the way of the Grizzlies, 0-3, who eventually earned the 2024 4A State second-place trophy. The set scores were 17-25, 20-25, and 16-25.

 Weiser’s player stats in the match: Shirts, 20 digs; Wilkins, 15 digs, 3 kills, 2 aces, and 9 assists; Brush, 9 digs; Williams, 7 digs, 1 kill, 1 ace, and 7 assists; Noyer, 4 digs, 4 kills, and 3 blocks; Doty, 4 digs, 1 kill, and 2 blocks; Hickey, 3 digs, and 5 kills; Stromberg, 3 digs; Lerew, 3 digs; Dolton, 1 dig, 4 kills, and 1 block; and Eames, 1 dig, 1 kill, and 2 blocks.

 “The 2024 team will always hold a special spot in my heart and the memories we made together,” coach Michelle Estes said. “I have enjoyed their spunky, spicy competitiveness, their kindness towards teammates, and their willingness to work hard while still having fun.”

 Estes said it’s always a let-down to miss the mark of placing in the top four and going for the championship. 

 “While as a team we work hard on volleyball skills, we also strive to build character, thankfulness and compassion for those around us,” Estes said. “We are proud to be honored with the 4A Idaho State Sportsmanship award. While we were evaluated solely on how we represented Weiser at the state tournament, we have tried to embody the thankfulness and servant attitude throughout the season. Congratulations to a well-deserved award that highlights the amazing young ladies that you are.”

 Estes expressed her own thankfulness to her athletes, and their parents who allowed her to spend time with their daughters.

 “2024 was one for the books,” she said. “I will always cherish this family!”