Crimson Bears spikers work the nets at Mt. Edgecumbe
- Klas Stolpe
- Aug 26
- 8 min read
JDHS opens volleyball season with road play in MEHS Jamboree
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears volleyball team returned to the court over the weekend for the start of the new season with a road trip to the Mt. Edgecumbe Invitational Jamboree at Sitka.
Each match at the Jamboree was two sets. On Friday, JDHS defeated MEHS 25-14, 25-10; defeated Ketchikan 25-19, 25-17, and split with Sitka, winning 25-20 and losing 25-19. On Saturday, JDHS defeated MEHS 25-17, 25-21 and Ketchikan 25-19, 25-21, and split with Sitka 25-19, 15-25.
“It was honestly so much fun,” senior outside hitter Lavinia Ma’ake said of the Jamboree. “And for our first tournament I think that was definitely a big part of it, just having fun with each other. We struggled last year and we learned from it. I guess you can say we are definitely one now, we’re kind of united.”
Last season the volleyball team was combined with the now-defunct Thunder Mountain High School.
“I think last year’s team was different because it was two different schools being combined together and everything,” junior setter Brie Powers said. “This year, we have played together the whole year through club and the summer. We definitely all bonded a lot. I think we are even better this year, definitely. I’m really excited for this season. At Edgecumbe, I was proudest of how well we played together. Last year, we had some difficulties with that, with conjoining teams and everything, but I think this year we really came together and learned how to play as a team.”
JDHS is looking to repeat as Region V champion and reclaim some state bragging rights after losing in last year’s state tournament in consecutive matches to Service (25-18, 25-7, 25-18) and Soldotna (25-14, 25-20, 25-13), respectively.
According to Jamboree stats provided to the Juneau Independent, Ma’ake led JDHS with 22 kills.
“They gave us a lot of good games,” Ma’ake said. “We definitely learned what we need to work on. We played hard and I’m excited to play them again. We will go to Ketchikan in two weeks. I’m excited to get to work.”
Ma’ake commented on last season’s early state tournament exit.
“Playing here in Southeast is different,” she said. “Anchorage teams give us a really big challenge. They’re very competitive. They have so many more resources to help them grow while we are so small.”
“We don’t have many resources, but we have this,” she said, gesturing with her arms at the players around her. “I’m excited. I think we will definitely do better. Like I said, we were still learning to work together last year. So we pretty much have the same team this year and we’re going to do good.”
The JDHS varsity roster includes six returning seniors with Ma’ake (#11), outside hitter Braith Dihle (#2), libero Cambry Lockhart (#3), middle blocker Gwen Nizich (#6), middle blocker Neela Thomas (#12) and outside hitter Natalie Harris (#20). At the Jamboree, Lockhart led JDHS with 46 digs and had 13 points on serve. Dihle and Ma’ake had 15 points scored on serves to lead the Crimson Bears. Ma’ake had eight aces and 32 digs, and Dihle 26 digs. Harris had 10 kills.
“We only lost a couple seniors on varsity from last year so a lot of the girls have been playing together since last year and we also started doing club volleyball,” Dihle said. “So we all have a lot more experience with each other and I feel like our communication and our team chemistry has got a lot better. So I’m really excited. We did really well at the Jamboree, and it was a lot of fun.”
Many of the players started playing club volleyball in December under junior varsity coach Robin Landes. They practiced twice a week through June and went to tournaments in Arizona and Washington. Players also attended two Juneau camps and others found camps outside the state as well.
“Those extra hours all add up,” Dihle said. “We’ve all played together a lot longer now and I’m really excited. I’m really happy we won regions, but I think this year our goal is of course to win regions, but to focus more on doing better at state if we have the opportunity to go there and to focus on just having a lot of fun. Ketchikan is the only team in our conference again and we faced them at the Jamboree and we’re excited, we’re excited. It’s anyone’s game. We have a lot of girls that are really good so.”
After playing her freshman and sophomore seasons, Nizich broke her foot last year and missed her junior campaign. She returns this year as a threat at the net and recorded 12 kills over the weekend.
“I returned because I love it,” Nizich said. “It is such a fun sport and I love the dynamic of our team.”
She noted the difference between watching last year’s Crimson Bears and the squad this season.
“Volleyball was the very first sport that happened after the combination of schools so I definitely think that played a role in the chemistry of the team,” she said. “But this year we have really come together. I’m just super excited about the new friendships and playing with all the girls. I definitely think we have a good shot. We work well together and it will be a fun season.”
Also returning are Powers (#4), junior outside hitter/middle blocker June Troxel (#1), junior defensive specialist Leila Cooper (#5) and new varsity junior setter Liliane Veikoso (#13). At the Jamboree, Troxel had 13 service points (1 ace) and 32 digs, Powers had 18 assists, Cooper 12 service points (4 aces) in reduced play due to an injury, and Veikoso nine points on serve (3 aces) and 39 assists.
Said Troxel, “I think — besides a few of our girls that graduated — there is not really a lot of difference except that we are more experienced now and it’s basically the same team. Starting off this season I feel like we are so connected now because we’ve played together for so long already. So I think the main difference isn’t the people. It is honestly just growing connections and knowing how we all play. Getting a year of experience and getting a lot better…last year at state was so cool. The teams are so amazing and it is so fun to be around people that are so experienced. It’s a totally different atmosphere than what you would expect and I’m really hoping that it can be the same this year — not the losing part — but being able to go up there and play all those amazing girls. I think we are a lot better than we were last year and that’s just because we have more experience playing with each other and I’m excited.”
Sophomore outside hitter Nellie Stowers (#8) is a new varsity player who transferred from Hawaii. Part of a U.S. Coast Guard family, Stowers is excited to be in Alaska’s capital city.
“I just moved here from Hawaii so it’s a pretty big change,” Stowers said. “I’m really excited for this upcoming season. I mean, I already really like all the girls and we already have a really good team together and I’m just really excited to work with them and see where we can go.”
Stowers played in all Jamboree sets and was a reliable substitute when Cooper was injured.
Of the Jamboree, Stowers said: “It was a little bit different from how it was in Hawaii. I can definitely see how all the teams are more connected here, more together, and I could see that we worked really well together compared to Hawaii. I just think we had the best team connection out of all the teams there and it was very nice to see that.”
JDHS varsity coach Jody Levernier said the Crimson Bears are “a pretty tight team this year. Eight of the 11 are returning. They did well last year with the consolidation, but you can tell they have really become friends and true teammates. Most of them played club so that helped them bond. I really think that playing together all year and truly enjoying and trusting each other will make a big difference this year. We are working on being more creative on offense, and they have more confidence running plays because they know each other better and they trust each other more. They have worked really hard so far and push each other in a fun competitive way.”
Joining Levernier on the sidelines are varsity assistant Robert Jones, JV head coach Robin Landes, JV assistant Kim Ferrin, C team head coach Rebecca Farrell and C team assistant Peter Sigmor.
Program assistant coaches include Dale Bontrager, Avei Tuvaifale and Mark Ibias.
Due to the number of players turning out, JDHS will also field a Crimson team. According to coaches the team currently has no travel dates but will compete on Fridays, earning points throughout the season. At the end of the season, the top players will be the first-ever Crimson Cup champions.
Crimson head coach is Tristan Douville and assistants are Leah Spargo and Cassie Dzinich.
The JV team is seniors Tearamae Alexander and Michelle Meeks, juniors Macy Summers, Amelia Elfers, Claree Overson, Analia Perry, Faith Contreras and Hailey Gilbert, and sophomores Destiny Su’ua, Lydia Goins, Ruby Koski and Zoe Tagsip.
The C team are seniors Lorelie Urrutia-Lugo and Kaylee Koelsch, juniors Cassie Chenowith and Taylor Petrie, sophomores Brynley Tingey, Mya Hayes, Regan Salisbury, Makenna Swanson, Mandy Tingey and Mandy Harris, and freshmen Serena Huang, Blythe Lockhart, Hannah Plang, Winter Osterhaut, Tori Petrie and Bela Payre.
Crimson team members are juniors August Rathbone, Aylin Wolter, Kristyanna Lohrey and Valeria Cabello, sophomores Anjali Padhi, Arramina Whitmore, Cooper Blackgoat and Kylie Lohrey, and freshmen Alea Faatoia, Ashley Rosales, Ava Stell, Eliana Amati, Evelyn Gilbert, Gretta Stearns, Isla McElmurry, Jackie Enele, Jelena Cano, Josie Reed, Lanaya Barrick, Lily Abel, Mia Alexander, Nany Namoria and Tay Munkhjin.
JDHS will next play at Ketchikan Sept. 5-6 and host their first home match of the season Sept. 12-13 against MEHS.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at kstolpe@juneauindependent.com.
