The Lady Dragon volleyball team kicked off the 2025-2026 sports season with their participation in the annual Peg Peterson tournament held in Pocatello’s Mountain View Events Center.  The two day tournament held August 22-23 served as a strong start for the MHS team, giving them multiple games to work through various rotations and line ups.  Putting games in both the win and lose column, the Lady Dragons are ready to jump into their new season.

Malad’s Friday pool play began as they took on the Buhl Indians.  The Lady Dragons bested the Indians in two quick games, winning 25-18 and then 25-12.  New libero for Malad, Paityn Ward, had a strong game as she collected 15 digs and managed a 2.3/3 score on her serve receive accuracy.  Her solid passing made setter Izzy Haycock’s job much easier as she quarterbacked the fast paced play.  Middle blocker Liv Nelson led at the net with 9 kills and 4 blocks.  Subbing in on the back row, Quincee Hammer led the team in aces with 4.

Game two for the MHS team featured a matchup against the Minico Spartans.  Minico gave Malad a bit more of a challenge but never could take the win.  The Lady Dragons ended each set of the game ahead 25-22, claiming their second win of the tournament.  The Spartans played a strong attack game but the Lady Dragons were ready for them, whether it was on the backline for the dig or at the net with the block.

The final game of the night, their toughest of the day, was played against the South Fremont Cougars.  The duo’s first match went into extra points, the Lady Dragons finally claiming the win 27-25.  Having experience behind them, the MHS team knew how to come out strong in the second match.  Malad widened the gap enough that the Cougars just couldn’t keep pace, winning the final match and the game 25-17.

With three wins to their name and leading in their pool, the Lady Dragons were placed in the Gold Bracket for the final day of the tournament.  This pitted them against the best teams at the tournament, the very place they wanted to be.  

The 5A Idaho Falls Tigers were the Lady Dragon’s first opponent of the Gold Bracket, a talented and experienced team.  Despite being short their libero for the day and still working through new rotations, the MHS team came to play.  The Tigers claimed the win over the first game with only a 3 point lead, Malad falling 22-25.  The second game proved even more challenging and the Lady Dragons lost 17-25.

Following the loss, Malad was set to play the Shelley Russets.  Bouncing back from their previous losses, the Lady Dragons took the lead to win by 6, 25-19.  The Russets weren’t ready to simply roll over and came back to win the second game 25-21.  With one win to each team, a final tie breaker, 15 point game was played to decide the winner.  The final game proved close with each team making big plays and crucial saves.  But in the end, it was Shelley that carried the lead, 15-13.

The tournament proved a great start for the Malad Lady Dragon volleyball season.  The great competition allowed the team to work out the kinks that always start out a new year.  Replacing valuable graduating seniors and injured players is always a challenge, but one Head Coach Camie Tripp and her team know how to work through.  

Coach Tripp commented on the weekend tournament, “We definitely learned some things, and that’s what early season play is all about. Friday night was good, Saturday was tougher- we had to play without our libero. I also made a shift at the outside position so that was also new. Considering those things, we competed really well. While we lost both matches Saturday, we battled, and that was great to see.” 

As the team works to build their confidence and chemistry in their new positions and rotation, the team is also focusing on reducing mistakes that turn into points for their opponents.  Coach Tripp shared, “We do need to work to eliminate the unforced errors. Once we figure out those few things, we’ll be solid!”

The Lady Dragons next match won’t be until they host the Bear Lake Bears on Wednesday, September 3.  The time will be valuable to hone in on those things that will bring them better flow, consistency, and prowess to help take them to the next level.  “It will be good to have this week to work on the changes I implemented mid-tourney.  I’m excited to settle into our rotations so we can focus on fine-tuning the little things that become the big things down the stretch,” declared Coach Tripp.

Peg Peterson Invitational Tournament

Friday & Saturday, August 22-23, 2025

MHS vs Buhl, Minico, South Fremont, Idaho Falls, & Shelley High Schools

PLAYER Kills Digs Aces Blocks Serve/Receive Accuracy

Izzy Haycock 16 58 1 13 0

Brynnlee Jones 41 51 0 2 1.9/3

Liv Nelson 49 16 6 20 -

Mady Vanbebber 13 10 0 12 -

Jette Nelson 19 - 0 6 -

Kendra Rupp 0 4 0 6 -

Cori Hurd 7 11 0 0 1.1/3

Quincee Hammer - 44 6 0 1.9/3

Kialey Pickett - 29 2 - 1.0/3

Paityn Ward - 55 5 - 2.0/3

Stella Merja - 18 0 - 1.7/3

Peg Peterson Invitational Tournament

Friday, August 22, 2025

MHS vs Buhl

25-18, 25-12

PLAYER Kills Digs Aces Blocks Serve/Receive Accuracy

Izzy Haycock 7 8 0 3 0

Brynnlee Jones 8 6 0 1 2.0/3

Liv Nelson 9 3 0 4 -

Mady Vanbebber 2 4 - 2 -

Jette Nelson 2 0 - 1 -

Kendra Rupp 0 1 - 1 -

Cori Hurd 1 3 0 0 1.5/3

Quincee Hammer - 7 4 - 1.9/3

Kialey Pickett - 6 1 - -

Paityn Ward - 15 0 - 2.3/3

Peg Peterson Invitational Tournament

Friday, August 22, 2025

MHS vs Minico

25-22, 25-22

PLAYER Kills Digs Aces Blocks Serve/Receive Accuracy

Izzy Haycock 1 12 0 1 0

Brynnlee Jones 5 8 0 0 1.9/3

Liv Nelson 11 2 2 3 -

Mady Vanbebber 0 0 - 1 -

Jette Nelson 1 0 - 2 -

Kendra Rupp 0 0 - 0 -

Cori Hurd 6 1 0 0 1.4/3

Quincee Hammer - 12 0 - 1.8/3

Kialey Pickett 1 5 1 - -

Paityn Ward 0 24 1 - 1.9/3

Peg Peterson Invitational Tournament

Friday, August 22, 2025

MHS vs South Fremont

27-25, 25-17

PLAYER Kills Digs Aces Blocks Serve/Receive Accuracy

Izzy Haycock 3 15 0 1 -

Brynnlee Jones 6 4 0 1 1.9/3

Liv Nelson 7 4 1 2 -

Mady Vanbebber 3 2 - 3 -

Jette Nelson 3 2 - 2 -

Kendra Rupp 0 0 - 1 -

Cori Hurd 0 5 0 0 0.5/3

Quincee Hammer - 6 1 - 2.5/3

Kialey Pickett 1 5 0 - 0.66/3

Paityn Ward 0 16 1 - 1.9/3