MIDDLETON — It turned out to be a perfect night, just not for the team going for an unbeaten season.

The Kuna High volleyball team won the District III-4A title 24-26, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23 in a battle of comebacks Thursday at Middleton High, spoiling Columbia's hopes of a perfect season.

"I don't have any words, I've just been waiting for this moment," said Kuna senior Wendy Thornton, who had 11 kills and six blocks.

"We just knew we could end their perfect season and we knew that we were prepared enough to take them in the district championship. I love my team and I'm so glad we did it."

Obviously, emotions on the other bench ran quite differently."

"It's definitely bittersweet," Columbia coach Schuyler Vezina said. "Kuna's a very good team and we knew that coming in and we didn't underestimate them by any means. They just played a better match tonight."

On the bright side for the Wildcats (16-1 overall), the loss doesn't end their season as both teams head to the 4A state tournament beginning next Thursday at Post Falls High.

"This is our first trip to state the girls are going to be very excited," Vezina said. "They're very deserving, the girls worked very hard."

As for Kuna (14-3), it's a second-straight trip to state where the Kavemen expect better results than last year's 0-2 record.

"We want to be contenders this year," Kuna coach Deb Bradburn said. "I think (this win) sets the tone for how we're going to play at state."

A win the Kavemen earned with what appeared to be impossible comebacks, after letting the first game slip away.

Up 23-19 in the opener after a triple block by Thornton, Brittany Ratliff and Larie Heindel, Kuna failed to finish off the win.

Or maybe the Wildcats simply refused to lose as a smart tip around the block by Abigail Gross for a kill closed the score to 23-21, and inspired Columbia.

"I think they're intensity just picked up a bit and I think it just worked for us," Vezina said.

That intensity showed as Jessica Tiffany gave Columbia a 24-23 lead with an ace, and after a Kuna sideout, Maren Mansfield crushed a kill and Gross finished off the game with an ace.

Columbia's intensity carried over into game two as a Taylor Kreutz ace put Kuna in a 21-13 hole, and the perfect season looked to be inching closer.

An unlikely kill by Kavemen libero Caroline Ratliff provided a spark, making the score 22-15, and sent Kuna on an 11-0 run that evened the match.

"It was the heart, we had the desire, and a lot of it was keeping our serves in consistently," said Thornton, who served up the final 10 points.

Even at a game apiece, Columbia again look ready to take control as an ace by Emily Vaartstra put the Wildcats on top 22-15.

It couldn't happen again, could it?

Yes, as a half dozen Wildcat miscues fueled another Kuna comeback.

"All season long we've been able to pull those games out, or pull through," Vezina said. "(Thursday), I don't know, maybe it was nerves. I'm not quite sure but we played a little tight and I think that got us in the end."

With a chance to finish of the title win, Kuna charged to a 23-19 lead in game four only to see the night of comebacks continue when a trio of Kavemen miscues eventually tied it.

A Tasha Norman kill put an end to Kuna's woes, and a kill from the back row by Heindel ended the match.

"I love it, I loved it," Bradburn said. "Such a momentum game, and for them to be able to rise to the occasion and keep the pressure on instead of put the pressure on themselves, that was nice to see."

Tiffany led the Wildcats with 17 kills while Anna Younts had 24 digs, Kreutz 35 assists and Lindsey Wakelam three blocks in the loss.

Caroline Ratliff led Kuna with 43 digs while sister Brittany had 48 assists, and Heindel added 14 kills, 11 digs and four aces.

Skyview 3, Bishop Kelly 1

MIDDLETON — Olivia Raass led the way for Skyview with 12 kills and three aces as the Hawks topped Bishop Kelly 25-10, 25-21, 18-25, 25-18 to advance to a state play-in game.

The Hawks (11-7) next play Hillcrest at Burley on Saturday.

Hannah Checketts added 30 assists in the win, while McKenna Ford had eight kills and Rochelle Sever added seven.

Makayla Lundin and Sarah Hassell each had 15 kills for the Knights, Rebecca Sweeney added 11 and Bobbi Sumpter had 19 assists.