Badgers volleyball wins second straight match, advances to IML semifinals

BONNERS FERRY — The Bonners Ferry High School volleyball team won its first-round IML district tournament match on Monday night, soundly defeating Priest River in straight sets, 25-12, 25-15, 25-14.

It was the Badgers’ (5-9 3-5 IML) second win in a row, its first time all season with consecutive wins, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. After sweeping Priest River last week, Bonners Ferry didn’t miss a beat, taking all three sets convincingly.

“The girls played very well despite having to adjust to normal rotations,” said Bonners Ferry head coach Kendra Maas. “I am very happy with the way that they played.”

The Badgers started off hot, with three kills from senior setter Allie Weertz and three aces from senior defensive specialist Lexie Maas powering Bonners Ferry to a 25-12 set win and 1-0 lead.

Maas continued her serving excellence in the second set, picking up five aces as junior hitter Sierra Petesch racked up a team set-high three kills and the Badgers handily won the set 25-12.

Bonners Ferry closed Priest River out in the third set, winning by double digits for the third time in a row. Petesch and freshman hitter Asha Abubakari combined for seven kills in the set as the Badgers put Priest River away.

Petesch led the team with eight total kills, while Maas paced the Badgers with eight aces and 14 digs and sophomore setter Emma Lucas recorded a team-high 12 assists. Weertz (six) and Abubakari (five) each knocked down at least five kills.

Bonners Ferry has now won six straight sets and is 3-2 in its last five matches after starting the season 2-7. With the win, the Badgers advance to the IML district tournament semifinals, where they will face off against Kellogg.

“We will have to step up the tempo for tonight’s game,” Maas said.

The semifinals match will begin at 6 p.m. on the road at Kellogg.