Lady Tigers open "second season"

The volleyball season began in earnest Monday when the Mountain Home Lady Tigers opened District III 4A Volleyball Tournament play at Skyview.

The Lady Tigers closed out their regular season schedule last week with losses on the road at Bishop Kelly and Nampa.

Bishop Kelly

14, 25, 25, 25

Mountain Home

25, 15, 8, 18

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers started out strong, taking game one, 25-14, over the Lady Knights from Bishop Kelly, but then dropped the next three games to lose the match, three games to one.

Mountain Home Lady Tiger volleyball coach Sarah DeVore was pleased with the way her Lady Tigers came out against Bishop Kelly in the first game.

"Yeah, 25-14, and we really dominated that game! It was really frustrating to come out that second game and be dominated."

Dani Dean had 10 kills for the Lady Tigers, Erica Stanton had six kills and 10 digs. Brandie Riggs had 22 assists and 15 digs and Kaleena Bluemer had eight kills and two service aces.

Nampa

25, 20, 25, 25

Mountain Home

15, 25, 17, 13

The Lady Tigers managed just one win in four games against the Lady Bulldogs last Thursday in their regular season final at Nampa High School. Coach DeVore did not think her Lady Tigers really came ready to play.

"No, we had a very slow start, as indicated by the 15-25 score. We fought back and did a couple different things with the lineup, and they looked good the second game, but kind of struggled mentally to gain anything in the third game. I think a mentally frustrating night for the girls trying to overcome some psychological issues right now and regain that going into district."

Brandie Riggs had 15 assists and was 15 for 16 serving, with two service aces. Ali Hillman served in 100 percent of her 12 serves, had one ace and four kills, and Erica Stanton had nine kills.

The Lady Tigers opened District III 4A Volleyball Tournament play at Skyview on Monday.

They went in seeded number seven, and opened against number two seed Bishop Kelly.

Other first-round pairings Monday had number three seed Kuna facing number six Emmett, number four Vallivue against five seed Nampa, and top seeded Skyview going against number eight seed Caldwell.