JDHS to open 4A state volleyball against top seed Dimond

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Sitka Lady Wolves set to spike Monroe Lady Rams in 3A state tournament

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé volleyball team celebrate their Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Volleyball Championship at Juneau's George Houston Gymnasium, after defeating Ketchikan for the title on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. JDHS opens the state tournament Thursday as the eighth seed against top-ranked Dimond High School at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

By Klas Stolpe

Juneau Independent

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears have one of the toughest draws in the 2026 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Volleyball State Championship on Thursday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center.

“We are playing the number one team in the state,” JDHS head coach Arnold Ibias said. “They are tough.”

JDHS, the state tournament eighth seed, will face the defending state champion Dimond Lynx at 10 a.m. Thursday. The winner advances to a Thursday quarterfinal and the loser into the Friday consolation bracket which serves as the second chance for any team losing a match. The tournament is a double elimination format.

JDHS junior Ruby Koski digs up a ball during the Crimson Bears’ Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Volleyball Championship match win over Ketchikan at Juneau's George Houston Gymnasium, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

“We have played them once and we were able to play them tough,” coach Ibis said. “In order to be able to beat them we have to play an unorthodox style. They have strong hitters and blockers so we need to do things they are not used to. Our defense will need to be on point. We cannot afford to give them points. The girls are excited for the opportunity to be at state and represent Juneau, but at the same time a little nervous. I might be more nervous than them.”

Thursday first-round 4A matchups are Dimond vs JDHS at 10 a.m., four seed Chugiak vs five seed Wasilla 11:45 a.m., third seed South Anchorage vs sixth seed Soldotna 1:30 p.m., and second seed Colony vs seventh seed West Valley 3:15 p.m.

The Sitka High School girls volleyball team celebrate their Alaska Airlines Region V 3A Championship after defeating Mt. Edgecumbe for the title in Juneau's George Houston Gymnasium, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. Sitka opens the state tournament at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center on Thursday as the sixth seed and play third seed Monroe. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

Thursday first-round 3A matchups are top seed Nikiski vs eighth seed Nome at 10 a.m., fourth seed Kenai vs fifth seed Barrow 11:45 a.m., third seed Monroe vs sixth seed Sitka 1:30 p.m., and second seed Homer vs seventh seed Valdez 3:15 p.m. The 3A is also double elimination.

“We are really excited to play Monroe Catholic,” Sitka coach Zadie Allen said. “They are the only team of all the 3A teams at state this year we have not played at all this year. They have a good offense and good servers so we have been working on a lot of serving and serve receive. The players are really excited and there was lots of energy at practice. This group just loves to compete and they want to play the best teams.”