TWIN FALLS — The majority of the Canyon Ridge varsity volleyball team did not participate in the Riverhawks’ 3-0 (7-25, 11-25 and 11-25) loss against Twin Falls High School on Wednesday night.Â
“Just going through some hard things,” CRHS coach Linsey Noorlander told the Times-News in an explanation about the situation.
Canyon Ridge played with two only full-time varsity players — Ava Martin and Jordann Noorlander. Junior varsity players filled the remainder of the roster.
“That was literally the bravest thing and strongest (thing) I have ever had to ask a team to do and I am so proud of them,” Linsey Noorlander told the Times-News. “They all stepped up. They all raised their level of play and they stood out there strong.”
Several varsity players strolled into the Twin Falls gym halfway through the first set and sat as a group on the Twin Falls side of the bleachers. They propped a sign that read, “We love (drawing of a heart) Jordann + Ava.”
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The members of the Canyon Ridge varsity team who did not participate showed up and sat directly across the the CRHS bench with a sign that says “We ❤️ Jordann + Ava.”Jordan Noorlander and Ava Martin were the only two varsity players who played. Rest was JV. #IDPreps https://t.co/7ZL7P2Dxcs pic.twitter.com/svz4jjbokH
— Adam Engel (@AdamEngel9) September 21, 2023
The group of varsity players declined to speak with the Times-News.Â
Will the players return at some point in the season?Â
“As of right now, that is above my head,” Noorlander, the coach, said.
Does she expect them to return?
“I have no idea,” she said.
Just spoke to Canyon Ridge coach Linsey Noorlander on this matter. Explanation for this: “We’re just going through some hard things.” Are most of the original varsity players still on the team? “As of right now, that is above my head.”#IDPreps https://t.co/XUHKWCtYGW
— Adam Engel (@AdamEngel9) September 21, 2023
Noorlander said she learned that she would have to promote the JV squad to varsity at about 4 p.m. Tuesday.
“We had about an hour and a half practice,” she said. “We had to hand out jerseys and stuff. We’re really going to be a work in progress. We’re working for that district tournament right now.”
The Bruins, meanwhile, earned the regular-season sweep over the Riverhawks, the defending Great Basin Conference champions, and took over sole possession of first place.
“Tonight was about Twin Falls volleyball and about being the best we could be,” Bruins coach Jacyln Hawkins told the Times-News. “That is all I've been focused on.”
The Canyon Ridge varsity roster includes two NCAA Division I commits, Madison Bland (Utah Tech) and Abby McClain (Idaho State).