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JDHS volleyball has Friday fall at Sitka
- Klas Stolpe
- 9 hours ago
- 5 min read
Crimson Bears to face Wolves again in Saturday road rematch
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears volleyball team opened their first road series of the season with a rematch against the Sitka Wolves. JDHS fell in a tight match on Friday, with Sitka earning a 3-1 (26-24, 24-26, 26-24, 25-17) Southeast Conference thriller.
“It was very encouraging to see how after each point we continued to keep our heads held high and would not look back on any mistakes,” JDHS senior Bri Powers said. “What I have taken from this match is the importance of positive energy throughout the whole game.”
After dropping the first game, JDHS jumped out to a 6-0 lead behind service from Powers in game two. After four changes of possession, JDHS went up 12-3 behind senior Liliane Veikoso on service with two aces.
JDHS continued to increase their lead to 19-9 behind a block from Veikoso and a kill by junior Ruby Koski.
“The team was able to stay positive despite the loss,” Koski said. “We kept our heads up and fought for every point. My takeaway from this game was the importance of staying positive and working together as a team.”
Sitka would earn possession on a tip by freshman Piper Vaughn to trail 17-13 and battled back to tie the game at 17-17 behind a kill by sophomore Addie Marx. A mishit game JDHS a 20-17 lead and Veikoso blocked a shot for 21-17.
Sitka freshman Eva Miller killed a shot to trail 21-18, and Marx served to a 21-21 tie that included two aces and a JDHS mishit.
JDHS senior Leila Cooper killed a shot for a 22-21 lead, but a block by Sitka’s Miller tied the game at 22-22. Sitka’s Vaughn served to a 24-22 lead before losing possession with a 24-23 advantage.
JDHS senior Haley Gilbert served to the 26-24 win that included an ace and a kill by senior Analia Perry.
In game three Sitka built a 12-5 lead before JDHS rallied to trail 15-13 behind a service ace from senior June Troxel and two kills by Gilbert. JDHS servers including Powers, senior Faith Contreras, Veikoso, senior Leila Cooper and Gilbert.
“What surprised me in the match was the amount of mental strength we had today, we kept pushing each other to do more, and to keep trying,” Contreras said. “What I have taken from this experience is we can still have fun even if we are not winning. Losing should not take the fun out of playing the game we all love.”
JDHS took a 16-15 lead with Gilbert serving and exchanged possessions to a 20-18 lead that included a block by the Crimson Bears’ Cooper.
Sitka took a 21-20 lead with senior Bristol Clifton at service and JDHS’ Troxel tied the game with a kill.
Sitka’s Brady killed a shot for 22-21, but a service error tied the game at 22-22.
A JDHS violation gave Sitka a 23-22 advantage, but a Wolves mishit tied the game at 23-23. A JDHS service error gave Sitka a 24-23 lead. The Crimson Bears’ Veikoso killed a shot to tie the game at 24-24, but Sitka’s Miller hit a scoring shot and senior Vada West served an ace for the win, 26-24.
“Something that really surprised me was how much effort the team put into each point and uplifted each other throughout the match,” Cooper said. “From this match I have taken away the importance of having a positive attitude through every point.”
In game four Sitka led early with two kills by senior Kailee Brady and pushed out to a 12-3 lead as the Crimson Bears were unlucky in two return shots and the Wolves' run included an ace by Clifton and a kill by Marx.
JDHS’ Troxel killed for possession and added another scoring hit to trail 12-5.
“It was great to see how our team was so focused and motivated to fight for each point despite the score,” Troxel said. “I took away the importance of starting off with the same level of intensity and high energy at the start of each set.”
Sitka’s Marx hit a scoring shot for possession and then served to a 16-5 lead that included two aces and a block by Brady.
JDHS worked back into the game with a block by senior Clairee Overson and a kill by Veikoso and a scoring shot by Koski to trail 21-13.
“What impressed me was how quickly we were all able to adapt to whatever the coaches needed us to do or not do,” Overson said. “I took away from the match the importance of refocusing after every play and to just breathe instead of letting mistakes get us down.”
Sitka pushed out to a 24-13 lead with Clifton at service, but a service error gave JDHS one last rally. With Veikoso at service, the Crimson Bears’ Contreras killed a shot, Veikoso aced a serve and Gilbert blocked a shot to trail 24-17.
A JDHS service error gave Sitka the match, 25-17.
“What surprised me is how much my team is willing to give and how much we push back on all our mistakes and focus on our goal,” Veikoso said. “What i have taken out of this is that being there for your teammates and cheering them is super important during the times where we are down.”
The Crimson Bears JV defeated Sitka JV 3-0 (25-10, 25-16, 25-18) and the Crimson Bears C-Team defeated Sitka C 3-0 (25-6, 25-22, 25-21).
The JDHS varsity also defeated Mt. Edgecumbe in an unofficial scrimmage on Friday 2-0.
The Crimson Bears still have junior Nellie Stowers on the injured list, but she traveled to support the team and help with statistics.
“Although I am currently not able to play because of an injury, being able to watch my team and seeing how much everyone was bringing each other up made me so happy,” Stowers said. “Being a part of a team that works hard every step of the way makes you not even care about the score, it just pushes you to do better each and every day. Just from watching, I was able to understand that my teammates, no matter what, they will never give up. I have taken away from this match that losses will come, but having a team that backs you up no matter what, makes you feel like you are winning.”
Game times on Saturday at Sitka include C-Team action at 11 a.m., JV action at 1 p.m. and varsity action at 3 p.m. JDHS will also scrimmage Mt. Edgecumbe at 9 a.m.
The JDHS varsity had split with Sitka last weekend. The Crimson Bears won 3-0 on Friday, Aug. 21, and the Wolves won on Saturday, Aug. 22, 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 25-14, 21-25, 15-12).
“My goal for the team is for all of us to be on the same page,” JDHS head coach Arnold Ibias said. “We are getting there.”
• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com
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