Lady Tigers feeling optimistic following Kuna Klassic

They have no hardware to show off, but Mountain Home Lady Tigers volleyball coach Jill Peterson came away from the Kuna Klassic feeling positive about her 2014 Lady Tigers.

"This weekend was great for our varsity team despite the fact that we were working short-handed with three of our girls out with ankle and foot injuries and one member unable to attend Saturday play," the coach said.

"Two members from our junior varsity team, Alex Tatum and Ashten Harrigan, have been practicing with us part time, and they really stepped up in this tournament and played all the way around for us."

Mountain Home went 4-3 in two days of pool play, with wins over Compass Charter, Greenleaf Friends Academy, Homedale and Payette, and losses to Centennial, Vale and Emmett.

They were ranked 13th out of the 24 teams at the tourney and put in the Silver Bracket in single elimination play. They opened Saturday afternoon against Melba and, after dropping the first game 21-25, won the second game 25-22 and the third and deciding game 25-17.

That put them against Burley in the Silver Bracket semi-finals. They lost a close match in two games, 23-25, 17-25.

"I was pleased with the aggressiveness and hard work despite the fact that six players played all the way around and every minute of every game," said Coach Peterson. "I look for great things to be happening when all our players are healed."

Looking at statistics for the Lady Tigers during the weekend tourney, Jessica Ruffing had 10 service aces, 44 kills and 23 assists. Ksyenya Peterson had 11 service aces, 21 kills and 25 assists. Mattie Bennett had 31 kills, and Ashten Harrigan had 11 service aces.

The Lady Tigers have a non-conference match at Mountain View Thursday night. They open conference play Sept. 9 at Bishop Kelly, before traveling to the Twin Falls Invitational Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Their first home match is Sept. 16 against Skyview.