Prep Volleyball

Sunday, September 9, 2007 4:21 AM PDT

Argus Observer Sports Staff

Twin Falls - The Fruitland volleyball team made a lasting impression in Saturday’s Twin Falls volleyball tournament in Twin Falls.

The Grizzlies won eight of ten matches, beating powerhouse programs like Minico, Kuna, Hagerman and Jerome on their way to a second-place finish. Twin Falls won the tournament.

In the opener of the 25-minute rally score round-robin tournament, Fruitland defeated Minico 42-22 and slipped past Middleton and Kuna.

The Grizzlies tasted defeat for the first time with a 32-30 loss to Gooding, before rebounding with a win over Declo.

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In the very next match, Twin Falls defeated the Grizzlies and Fruitland came back and rattled of wins against Hagerman, Filer and Jerome.

“The team as a whole, played great,” Fruitland head coach Lisa O’Neil said. “They were very focused. This tournament is great because we play great teams from all over the state. This gives us a chance to get the kinks out and it definitely builds their confidence.”

Jordan Valley

The Jordan Valley volleyball team salvaged a split during the weekend beating Wilder 3-0 Friday and suffered a four-game loss to Greenleaf Friends Academy Saturday in Greenleaf.

Friday, the Mustangs won the opener 25-18 and kept the roll going with a 25-17 win the second game and closed out the sweep with a 25-11 win in the third game.

Kayla Cuvelier had 11 kills, Katie Kershner had 10 assists and Nickie Naegle chipped in 10 assists and 16 service points.

“It was great,” Jordan Valley head coach Jacque Naegle said. “We came out and played really well. They played together, backed each other up, passed well and hit well.”

Against Greenleaf, the Mustangs lost the opener 25-23 and lost the second game 25-19 only to rebound with a 25-23 win the third game. Greenleaf put the match on ice with a 25-14 win in the decisive fourth game.

Nickie Naegle had an all-around match with 12 assists and seven digs, while Kershner chipped in seven digs and 16 assists. Jessi White totaled eight kills and eight service points and Athena Beckwith rattled off eight kills.

“Greenleaf is a good team,” Jacque Naegle said. “They’re just real scrappy. They have got two tall girls and they hit the ball hard. They were the hardest hitting team we played all year.”

The Mustangs (2-1 overall) host Crane Friday.

Adrian

The Adrian volleyball team brought home some hardware Saturday sweeping past three teams in the 1A Cove Invitational volleyball tournament in Cove.

The Antelopes defeated Harper 25-5 and 25-8 and kept the momentum going with a 25-22 and 25-17 win over Pine Eagle.

In the championship match, Adrian played two tough games against Cove and walked away with 25-20 and 25-23 wins over the gritty Panthers.

Paige Branstiter had a dominating tournament performance finishing with 33 kills, four aces, three digs and a block kill. Teammate McKenzie Purnell chipped in five kills and 22 assists, while

Kassi Daugherty had 10 assists and Kirsten Phillips added five aces along with six digs.

“This was a good tournament experience, especially the match against Cove,” Adrian head coach Aimee Goss said. “I was very pleased with the intensity of that match. The girls are making great strides to playing together as a team and today showed that. It is very nice to come out on top in any tournament situation.”

Friday, Paige Branstiter tallied 17 kills, six service aces and two kill blocks to lead Adrian to the 25-23, 25-22, 27-25 sweep over Powder Valley Friday in High Desert League volleyball action in Adrian.

Purnell, who had four kills, 13 assists and two block kills, while Daugherty added two aces, two kills and seven assists.

Adrian (5-0 overall) next hosts a dual match against Spray and Mitchell Friday.