The Kemmerer High School volleyball team opened its 2025 campaign at the Cokeville Invitational over the Labor Day weekend, posting an 0-5 record against a mix of tough Idaho and Wyoming teams.
“Things didn’t go as well as we would have liked, but it’s still a good first tournament for us,” said KHS head coach Jodie King. “It gives us some ideas of what to look at, changes we need to make, things we need to work on.”
The Lady Rangers opened the tournament Friday morning against Grace, Idaho, losing in straight sets, 3-0. Kemmerer kept it close in the first set, losing 25-23, though the team struggled in the second, falling 25-12. The third set was all Grace, as the Lady Grizzlies dominated at the service line, winning 25-9.
The Lady Rangers followed that with a match against eventual Gold Bracket champions Bear Lake, out of Montpelier, Idaho. The Lady Bears were as good as advertised, sweeping Kemmerer 3-0 (25-4, 25-8, 25-15), though the Lady Rangers played tough in the third set.
The Lady Rangers closed out pool play Friday with a three-set loss to 4A Evanston (25-14, 25-16, 25-6), dropping to Saturday’s Silver Bracket.
Kemmerer began Silver Bracket play Saturday against West Side, Idaho, losing 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-17); the Lady Rangers closed out the tournament with a rematch against Grace, losing 3-0. Much like Friday’s match, the Lady Rangers kept it close in the first set, losing 25-21; they dropped set two 25-17, then fell 25-12 in the third set.
While not the outcome the team was hoping for, King said there were positives to build on moving forward.
“I think the girls were really working on their skill sets — at first, it was a bit of a rough start, with anxiety, and nerves coming into that tournament,” King said. “But I think they settled in, and did well — they’re playing better as a team this year than I’ve seen in the past, so far. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
The Lady Rangers will now set their sights on the Evanston Border Wars next weekend, a tournament that attracts teams from all over the region. Led by seniors Haddy Plowman, Hadlee Wood, Ashlyn Riding and McCartney Pollard, Kemmerer will look to break into the win column. The rest of the varsity roster includes Cambree Tolhurst, Anna Costello, Addison Dietrich, Brinley Backman, Temperance Henri, Claire Crosland, Addison Anderson and Lilly Lozier.
“I think the team is really versatile — they’re playing in different positions than they have in the past, and they’re really doing a good job at adapting and overcoming the change,” King said. “That makes me pretty excited.”
