Crimson Bears bitten by Cougars at state tournament
- Klas Stolpe
- Nov 14, 2025
- 5 min read
JDHS volleyball season ends in tight match against Service
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
Playing their second high-quality match of the day, the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears fell to the Service Cougars 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19) Friday and were eliminated from the 2025 ASAA Volleyball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center.
“I truly think we fought hard and gave it our all,” JDHS senior libero Cambry Lockhart said. “They play a very fast-paced offense, and we were just right behind them. We kept up very thoroughly.”
Service proved to have high-powered hitters along the net, but JDHS’ Lockhart led an equally athletic defensive team as the Crimson Bears dug, tipped and dumped the ball with a chance to win each set.
“Cambry is amazing,” JDHS coach Jody Levernier said. “She is always focused, positive and talking. She works so hard and is a solid defender.”
Throughout the match, the JDHS front and middle challenged at the net, and the back line and middle provided quality returns and passes.
Levernier noted the passing and defensive play of juniors Brie Powers and June Troxel and senior Lavinia Ma’ake that complements the JDHS front-line attackers.
Service held an early 8-3 lead in set one behind an ace by senior Dakota Evans and a kill apiece from senior Grace Gastrock and junior Kaitlyn Smith.
JDHS would exchange possessions through the first half of the set. Trailing 14-9, they made a strong run to pull to within a point, 16-15, behind kills by senior Gwen Nizich and Braith Dihle, Powers and sophomore Ruby Koski. Nizich also had a block and Dihle an ace.
“I think we played hard and put it all on the floor,” Dihle said. “It wasn’t our best performance, but I am proud with how our team held up. I am sad, being a senior and it was my last time on the court. Mostly I will miss all my teammates who made this season so memorable. They are a really great group of girls. I am thankful for all the memories and all the relationships that have bloomed. I love this sport and I love this team.”
A misshit gave Service possession, and Cougars junior Isabella Brown served to 22-16 with the help of a block by senior Lily Ruiz, a kill by junior Emilie Miller and a Crimson Bears’ misshit.
JDHS would score on two Service misshits, but return possession on their own serving error and the Cougars’ Ruiz would serve out the match 25-18 with a block by senior TahTiani Keliikipi and a JDHS misshit.
Set two saw both sides stay within a few points through a 10-7 advantage by Service. JDHS had key scores on a block by junior Liliane Veikoso, an ace by Veikoso and a dump shot by Lockhart. Service had key scores on an ace by Evans, a kill by Smith and a block by sophomore Caedra Horton.
Evans killed a shot for Service and Ruiz served to a 13-7 lead.
JDHS’ Ma’ake killed for possession and served an ace, but Service’s Evans killed two shots for a 16-9 lead.
JDHS would battle back to within 18-15 led by a cut shot by Dihle, two kills by Nizich and an ace by Dihle.
Service’s Ruiz killed for possession and the Cougars’ Miller served to 24-15, including a dump shot by Keliikipi, a kill by Ruiz, a block by Ruiz and an ace.
A service error gave JDHS possession and Lockhart served an ace to trail 24-17 but a Crimson Bears misshit gave the set to Service.
“My biggest takeaway is that importance of playing with heart,” Nizich said. “The outcome of the game wasn’t what we wanted, but the bond that our team has created goes beyond volleyball.”
JDHS took an early 6-3 lead in set three behind a kill by Nizich, two service aces from Dihle, a tip by Ma’ake and a kill by Koski.
Service would respond with a kill by Smith for possession, and Brown served to a 7-6 lead with an ace and kills by Evans and Ruiz.
An exchange of several possessions favored JDHS as Troxel served an ace, Nizich blocked for a score and Lockhart hit a tough serve that was played back soft, allowing Ma’ake to smash a point and tie the score at 14-14.
Service’s Ruiz blocked for possession and Miller served to an 18-14 lead with an ace and two JDHS misshits.
The two sides would exchange possessions with Service leading 19-16, and the Cougars’ Ruiz and Evans killed for a 21-16 lead.
JDHS’ Veikoso killed a shot for possession and Troxel served to within 21-19, including a Service misshit and a block by Nizich.
Service gained possession on a JDHS error and Keliikipi served out the match with a kill by Horton, a tip by Miller and an ace for 25-19.
The libero positions were recognized after the game as JDHS’ Lockhart and Service junior Jaelyn Lorenzo were selected Players of the Match.
When asked about her defensive play, Lockhart said, “I try to focus on one point at a time and watching the hitter’s body. I really have to anticipate and think about the set, block and angle of their shoulder. Other than that I just try to keep it up and do everything I can to keep it in the court. Passing everything back in the court.”
JDHS had eliminated the Lathrop Malemutes 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-16) earlier in the day. The Crimson Bears had opened the state tournament Thursday with a loss to the Dimond Lynx, 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-21).
Veikoso had received Player of the Match against Lathrop, and Nizich earned the honor against Dimond.
“I am always playing for my team,” Nizich said. “We play for each other. When on the court, we recognize that we rely on one another for each point. I wouldn’t have been able to earn player of the game without my teammates' digs, passes and coordinated sets.”
Service opened the state tournament Thursday with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 26-24) win over Soldotna and a 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-12) loss to Chugiak. Dimond eliminated Service 3-1 (25-15, 26-28, 25-19, 25-20) in a Friday late game.
State Tournament Scores:
Thursday - Service 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 26-24) vs. Soldotna; Chugiak 3-2 (25-22, 17-25, 25-19, 17-25, 15-13) vs. South Anchorage; Dimond 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-21) vs. JDHS; Colony 3-0 (25-6, 25-22, 25-13) vs. Lathrop; Chugiak 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-12) vs. Service; Colony 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21) vs. Dimond.
Friday - South 3-0 (25-7, 25-16, 25-12) eliminates Soldotna; JDHS 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-16) elim. Lathrop; Dimond 3-1 I25-15, 15-25, 26-24, 25-18) elim. South; Service 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19) elim. JDHS; Colony 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-21) vs. Chugiak in semifinal; Dimond 3-1 (25-15, 26-28, 25-19, 25-20) elim. Service.
Saturday - 11 a.m. Dimond vs. Chugiak in an elimination game. The winner advances to 4 p.m. championship vs. Colony.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
