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JDHS and Dimond ignite first game of 4A state volleyball tournament
Underdog Crimson Bears fall to top-ranked Lynx, 3A Sitka falls to Monroe
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé brought a game plan to their opening match of the 2026 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Volleyball State 4A Championships on Thursday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center and at least in concept it succeeded.
“Our game plan was not to go head-to-head with them,” coach Ibias said. “Because we don’t have the hitters that they do, we don’t have the blockers that they do. We were counting on our defense and being able to find holes and make them move to the ball. And we did. Dimond was not passing the ball as well as they normally do and they struggled in the first two sets.”
Unfortunately for the Crimson Bears, the state’s top-ranked Dimond Lynx brought the "oar" and stopped the valiant eighth-ranked JDHS effort 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-13) to advance to Friday’s semifinal and put the Crimson Bears into a one-loss disadvantage in the double-elimination tournament.
“It is ‘row the boat,’ the oar is the energy and the effort, and they all have to be on board,” Dimond head coach Kim Lauwers said. “At the beginning of the year we had little painted paddles. We didn’t sign the big until I thought we were all in and all ready. I thought that after our region title we were all there and all one. It is just our reminder that we all have to stick together and do it together and we are all in it together. That is the reason for it.”
JDHS senior Liliane Veikoso put the first point of the state tournament on the board and the Crimson Bears played another tough shot for a 2-0 lead. Dimond earned a point on a tip by senior Puao Asailevai but then exchanged mishits with JDHS to trail 3-1.
A kill by Lynx senior Fuasala Fautanu put service in the hands of Dimond senior Ailafo Fautanu, and the Lynx went up 7-3 behind three aces and two scoring hits by senior Nia Cook.
On various service possessions and rallies JDHS pulled to within 7-5, 11-8 and 15-10 before a mishit gave Dimond an edge. The Lynx served to a 23-10 lead that included three aces by Asailevai and kills by junior Anayah Sila and senior Tephra Sega.
“We know that we can’t do it with just one,” Lauwers said. “One person can’t be going one way and one person can’t be going the other way. We all have to do it together. Volleyball is kind of like that. You need to be able to serve and pass, and it is such a team sport. So that is just our reminder. We all signed the big oar coming into the state tournament. We were finally able to accomplish lots of things this season by doing that, and this is our reminder of that.”
JDHS forced a mishit and senior June Troxel serve to trail 23-14 behind a block by senior Haley Gilbert, a block by Veikoso, and a scoring tip by Gilbert that forced Dimond to call a timeout.
“We played amazing,” JDHS’ Gilbert said. “That is the best we have played all season. They gave us competition and we gave it right back at them. Our goal was to make the other coach take a time out. She is usually very calm and collected. Our goal was that she would have to think about that. And we played great. I am so happy with how we all played hard.”
Dimond came back with kills by Sila and sophomore Tatum Trombley to win game one 25-14. That also shows how strong Dimond is. Despite struggling they got on board, regrouped, closed out game one and went on to power into game two.
“One of our goals was to make sure Kim (Lauwers) was frustrated,” coach Ibias said. “She never calls time out, and she called time out. So that was a win for us. We knew we would have to play a perfect game to beat Dimond. On the high ground, we played really well.”
In set two the Lynx jumped out to a 4-0 lead on three Crimson Bears mishits. JDHS’ Gilbert killed a shot and Troxel served to trail 4-3 behind another Gilbert block and a Veikoso tip.
Dimond rallied again with a kill by Sila and Fautanu serving to 8-3 behind an ace and a double block by Trombley and Cook.
JDHS junior Nellie Stowers put an emphatic kill down to regain possession, but on the next play she suffered an ankle injury under the net and would be lost for the match.
After a lengthy delay, JDHS recovered to play and Dimond returned with enthusiasm as the two sides exchanged multiple service possessions. JDHS battled to trail 11-6, 14-9, and 16-11 before Dimond made another run.
The Lynx’ Fautanu killed for service and junior Evelyn McKenna served to a 23-11 lead.
After a JDHS timeout, a service error put Crimson Bears senior Brie Powers at service and she put a solid ball over to trail 23-12 on a Dimond mishit.
JDHS would mishit two balls to fall 25-13.
“That is a very good team,” JDHS coach Arnold Ibias said. “I felt like the first two sets we did exactly what we wanted to do. We just had a few mistakes that we gave them points that we didn’t plan on giving them. The first two sets for us our game plan was working we just weren’t scoring all the points that we needed because they are a freaking good team.”
Dimond showed out in set three, taking a 7-0 lead with sophomore Chloe Lau serving and getting two kills and a tip by Fautanu and putting over two aces.
A JDHS timeout led to a Dimond service error and the Crimson Bears’ Powers floated a serve that led to a kill by Troxel.
Dimond would answer with a kill by Sila and Fautanu served to a 15-2 lead, including two aces and a kill by Trombley.
On possession exchanges JDHS garnished scoring plays that included a kill by sophomore Bela Pyare to trail 17-6 and a kill by junior Ruby Koski to trail 18-9. The Crimson Bears put tough balls over that the Lynx mishit and worked to a 21-11 deficit.
Dimond’s Sega tipped a score and junior Nyla Nolan served to a 24-11 lead before a mishit gave JDHS’ Powers service. A hard serve was returned and Troxel dug it up, Veikoso set it up and Gilbert put a hard shot across. Dimond junior libero Evelyn McKenna did the same, digging up the ball to senior setter Alexis Mason for Trombley to kill for match point 25-13.
Unofficial stats have JDHS’ Gilbert with two kills, three blocks and a scoring tip; Veikoso a kill, a block, an ace and two scoring tips; Stowers two kills; Troxel a kill and a block; Koski a kill and a scoring tip; senior Leila Cooper an ace; and Pyare a kill. The Crimson Bears had 20 mishits.
Unofficial stats have Dimond’s A. Fautanu with six kills, a tip and five aces; Sila 10 kills, two tips and a block; Trombley five kills and a block; Cook four kills, a tip and a block; senior Fuasala Fautanu a kill and three aces; senior Piper Boston a kill; Asailevai a tip; and Lau two aces. The Lynx had 18 mishits.
Gilbert received ASAA’s Player of the Game for the Crimson Bears along with Dimond’s libero McKenna.
“That is crazy,” Gilbert said. “I was not expecting that. It was all my team. They gave good sets and good passes, it was amazing.”
JDHS will face fifth seed Wasilla at 10 a.m. Friday in round one of the consolation bracket. The Warriors fell to fourth seed Chugiak 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-18). The consolation bracket matches are elimination games as teams fight to continue in the championship hunt.
“I told the girls in the locker room I was super proud of them for the way they played,” Ibias said. “We didn’t win, but on another level we won because we competed with them, we didn’t come in there and just get crushed, which I am sure a lot of people thought would happen. The score didn’t reflect how well we played. We are looking forward to playing Wasilla. We are looking forward to getting back on the court. The attitudes are good. The energy is still good.”
Experienced Monroe Topples Young Sitka Squad
The state’s third-ranked 3A Monroe Catholic Lady Rams stymied the sixth-ranked Sitka Lady Wolves in their opening match at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Volleyball State 3A Championships on Thursday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center, winning 3-1 (25-14, 21-25, 25-23, 25-17).
“We need to work on our passing and our overall communication,” Sitka coach Zaide Allen said. “We have had only three players who have ever played in the state tournament game before so there was definitely some nerves. I think just them being more comfortable and having a game under them will help.”
The two sides started on an even playing level with eight possession changes and Monroe leading 8-7. The Lady Rams had kills from senior Kenleigh Newton, junior Margaret Trieglaff and sophomore Massie Morgan, a block from Newton, and an ace apiece from Newton and senior Anya Chernich. Sitka recorded kills from junior Kailee Brady, sophomore Lily Schwartz, freshman Eva Miller, a tip from Brady and an ace from sophomore Maleah Partido.
Monroe pushed the pace with M. Morgan serving to a 16-7 lead, Church serving to a 21-10 lead and Chernich serving the set winner for the 25-13 final. Monroe had kills by senior Rory Morgan, sister M. Morgan and Newton and a block from senior Peyton Hammond. Sitka senior Bristol Clifton had a kill, a block and an ace down the stretch. Marx and Miller added kills and Brady a block.
Sitka battled back in set two. The Lady Wolves gave up to opening kills by Newton and Trieglaff but responded with two long runs for an 11-5 lead. In those attacks Schrantz and Marx had an ace apiece, freshman Piper Vaughn two blocks and a kill.
Monroe battled back to tie the set at 11-11 with M. Morgan serving two aces, R. Morgan getting one kill and Church a block. The two sides tied at 13-13 and 14-14 before Sitka’s Clifton killed for possession and Brady served to a 20-14 lead behind an ace and two blocks from Clifton. Monroe responded again with a Newton kill and R. Morgan serving to trail 20-19.
After two possession changes Monroe tied the set 21-21 but gave up the ball on a mishit. Sitka’s Schrantz served to 24-21 with two kills by Marx. A kill by Monroe’s M. Morgan closed the score to 24-22, but Sitka’s Marx killed for the set 25-14.
Sitka trailed 7-2 in the third set before taking a 10-7 lead behind two kills from Marx and a Schrantz ace. Monroe went on their own run to take a 15-14 lead behind a kill and a block apiece from R. Morgan and Trieglaff. Sitka went up 16-14 and Monroe regained the lead 18-16.
The two sides changed leads again with Sitka taking a 19-18 advantage behind a Clifton kill, Monroe tying the set on a R. Morgan tip, Sitka taking the lead on a service error and Monroe tying the set at 20-20 with a Newton kill. A Monroe mishit put Sitka up 21-20, but a Lady Wolves mishit gave the Lady Rams service. Monroe took a 23-21 lead behind an ace by Newton.
Sitka’s Vaughn killed a shot for possession and Schrantz aced a serve to tie at 23-23. A Sitka mishit put Monroe’s M. Morgan at service and she aced the set 25-23 for a 2-1 set lead.
Set four featured 17 early possession changes ending with a 14-14 tie. Monroe’s Church tipped for possession and Newton served to an 18-14 lead behind a kill from M. Morgan. Sitka’s Clifton killed to pull to 18-15, but Monroe’s Hammond blocked a shot for possession and M. Morgan served to a 23-15 lead, including two aces. She was also aided by two blocks from R. Morgan. A mishit gave Sitka possession, but R. Morgan killed to get it back with a 24-16 lead. Another mishit gave Sitka service, but the ball was returned back and the Lady Wolves mishit to fall 25-17.
Sitka’s Marx was the ASAA Player of the Game for the Lady Wolves.
“Monroe is one of the only teams we have not played out of all of these 3A teams,” Sitka sophomore Adoline Marx said. “So we had a lot of film to watch and we picked up on a lot of things, lots of tendencies, and I think we executed a lot of those things. We just didn’t really piece together a lot. But taking one set is really good for us. I think it kind of just crumbled at the end, but overall I think we played well as a team. We are definitely the youngest team here. We have five freshmen and three sophomores, and playing against these teams that have a lot of state experience is very different. I was here last year as a freshman. It was nervy in the beginning and I was pretty sad because it was the last games with our seniors. This team has known each other forever, and we want it badly now and next year. The goal is to make it as far as we can. We have played a lot of the teams that are in the losing bracket as well. I think we are holding our heads high. We are just ready for the next game.”
Monroe senior R. Morgan and sophomore sister M. Morgan were co-players of the game for the Lady Rams.
“This game was really exciting starting off the state tournament,” R. Morgan said. “It is a big step for us. We worked so hard this entire season and we are really excited. Our goal is to win state, obviously, and our team is very capable of it. But obviously being able to play with my sister is pretty cool and very special too. I think just seeing all the things that she does and all the work she has put in is inspiring. Because ever since I started playing that was when she started following me and so just seeing here succeed is really special. I know she is going to go really far. So I am very excited. It is sad this is our last year together, but still exciting.”
Monroe will face Homer in a 5 p.m. Friday semifinal. The Mariners defeated Valdez 3-1 (25-16, 25-16, 22-25, 25-14).
“It was really exciting because we have seven seniors and this is the last year with my sister,” M. Morgan said. “So it is really exciting, and we have all been practicing really hard and looking forward to this. It is really fun playing with my sister. She is always there for me on the court. And we kind of like know the game, we are kind of similar with it. And it is just really fun knowing that she is always by my side.”
Sitka will face Valdez in an 11:45 a.m. Friday consolation game to stay alive in the championship hunt.
“We just need to see the things we need to work on and move on,” Sitka coach Allen said. “We can’t dwell on that game. A couple of years ago Nikiski went all the way through the consolation bracket and won it all from the very bottom of the loser’s bracket. And we are good at coming back so, yeah, on to the next.”
• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com
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