Spartan volleyball wins in five sets

ST. MARIES – The Priest River Spartans volleyball team got a five-set win at St. Maires Tuesday, Sept. 17.

“The girls fought hard and took the W!,” Spartan coach Katlyn Ward says. “A great way to battle in our first league away game.”

The Spartans lost the first set 25-20, won the second 25-18, lost the third 25-23, won the fourth 25-16 and took the tiebreaker 15-13.

Jayda Storro had a good offensive game, with 11 kills, 15 assists and two aces. Aleigha Jensen and Raygn Turner also served a pair of aces each.

On defense Jensen had three blocks and assisted with five others, as did Paityn Yount. Toni Marinello had 22 digs.

Friday the Spartans were at Orofino, where they were swept 3-0, losing to the Maniacs 25-23, 25-22, 25-16.

“The girls showed up swinging and making plays,” Ward says. “In the end it wasn’t enough.”

Storro served six aces and had 21 assists. Desi Humphrey had 11 kills, Marinello and Raygn Turner each had 17 digs.

Priest River went to Grangeville Saturday. The Spartans won the first two sets 25-23, 2520.

Ward said the Spartans played two of the best sets she’s seen in a while.

“They played with hustle and intensity,” she says.

But the last three sets didn’t got Priest River’s way, with the Spartans losing the third set 25-15 and the fourth set 25-22, before dropping the tiebreaking fifth sets 15-11.

“The three last sets were mental games,” Ward says. “We almost made it happen in the last two but couldn’t quit get there.”

Priest River played Bonners Ferry Monday night at home. Thursday they go to Kellogg for a match that starts at 7 p.m.