JDHS spikers are Region V volleyball champions
- Klas Stolpe
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
Crimson Bears win title at Ketchikan, next stop Anchorage
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé volleyball team passed well, served hard and jumped high as they won the Southeast Region V Tournament over the weekend on the host Ketchikan Kings’ court.
Despite Kayhi’s quality improvement during the season, the Crimson Bears withstood a first-set thriller to sweep match one Friday 3-0 (27-25, 25-16, 25-19) and completed the clean up with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-16) win Saturday.
“The girls were really excited to play on Friday,” JDHS coach Jody Levernier said. “They accomplished some of the defensive things we had been working on in practice, like cover tips. The setters really worked on controlling their sets. I’ve talked all year about how fun they are to watch in practice and we need that to transfer to the games…and it finally did. They were so fun to watch, worked really hard and supported each other.”
Statistics provided by JDHS assistant coach Robin Landes for Friday’s match show junior Lilane Veikoso having 19 points scored by the Crimson Bears on her service, including two aces. Senior Braith Dihle had eight points on service with two aces, senior Cambry Lockhart seven points with one ace, junior June Troxel six points, junior Leila Cooper three points and one ace, and senior Lavinia Ma’ake two points.
Ma’ake led with 12 kills, Nizich added 10, Dihle eight, Veikoso two, and Troxel and sophomore Ruby Koski one apiece. Ma’ake had 31 kill attempts, Dihle 24, Nizich 19, Koski nine, Troxel eight, Veikoso seven, sophomore Nellie Stowers two, and Lockhart and senior Neela Thomas one apiece. Nizich had six blocks Friday and Ma’ake one.
“The tension was high this weekend, making for some exciting games,” Nizich said. “Both our team and Ketchikan wanted to advance to the state tournament, and that intensity showed as we battled it out on the court. I really enjoyed working with my team and being part of such an energetic environment. We're carrying this momentum into the state tournament next week and will keep pushing hard until the end.”
Lockhart had 18 pass attempts on Friday, Ma’ake 12, Dihle 11, Troxel eight, and Koski and Veikoso two apiece. Lockhart led with 18 digs as well, Ma’ake 17, Dihle 11, Veikoso 10, Koski four, Troxel and junior Brie Powers three apiece, Nizich two, and Cooper and Thomas one apiece. Veikoso had 23 assists, Powers 10 and Lockhart one.
Statistic totals for Saturday showed Lockhart with 10 service points and one ace, Veikoso nine service points and two aces, Dihle eight points, Cooper seven and one ace, Troxel five and three aces, and Ma’ake four and two aces.
Lockhart and Ma’ake had 17 pass attempts, Dihle 16, and Troxel and Koski one apiece. Veikoso had 18 assists, Powers 13, and Lockhart and Ma’ake one apiece.
Ma’ake had 11 kills and 19 hits in play, Nizich nine kills with 10 still in play, Koski five kills and Dihle one.
Dihle had 24 digs, Lockhart 18, Veikoso 15, Ma’ake nine, Troxel, Powers, Nizich and Koski four each and Cooper two.
“I am feeling really happy about our win this weekend,” Dihle said. “The whole team has worked really hard this season and I am excited for the upcoming weekend in Anchorage. While I am nervous to play bigger teams, I am also excited for the challenge and looking forward to ending my senior season as positively as possible. It is bittersweet thinking this is the last tournament I will get to experience with this team, but I am optimistic and grateful for an already fun season.”
Lockhart earned the Region V Passing Competition title and Dihle won the Serving Competition title.
“We were very excited going into regions,” Lockhart said. “We knew that Kayhi would have a strategic game plan against us so we were ready to come and compete. Winning regions felt very achieving, especially for the seniors on the team. Getting to leave it all out on the court as a team and playing for each other one last time at a region tournament. We are looking forward to state and playing the higher competition. Overall it is rewarding to get to enjoy these last volleyball moments with each other and play at the top tournament in the state.”
All-Conference selections were Lockhart, Ma'ake and Nizich.
“Gwen is just so fun to watch,” Levernier said. “She really can do it all, even though she mostly plays the front row, she has served and can play defense. She is really agile and jumps out of the gym. Every time she gets a block or a kill, it just hypes the team up. She didn’t play last year because of a foot injury, and we are so glad she is back this year.”
Levernier said Ma’ake is, a “solid force on our team. She is so positive and encouraging to all her teammates. She plays all the way around and has the capability of being one of our strongest players and most powerful hitters. She has been our floor captain for most of the season, shared with Braith. She is capable of asking refs questions and communicating with her team and coaches. She is a very dynamic player and also incredible to watch.”
Levernier said Lockhart is “our quiet leader. She is always talking to players on the court, she is very court smart and is aware of what the opponents are doing and what their tendencies are. She is very focused and is not easily rattled. She is hands down one of the best liberos. She energizes our team with digs that are unexpected. She is just a blast to watch.”
JDHS also won the Good Sportsmanship Team Award, and Lockhart and Ma’ake were selected as Good Sportsmanship individuals. JDHS players selected to the All-Academic Team included Michelle Meeks, Tearamae Alexander, Kaylee Koelsch, Braith Dihle, Cambry Lockhart and Gwen Nizich.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
