JDHS volleyball seniors reflect on careers
- Klas Stolpe
- Nov 2
- 5 min read
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The 2025-26 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé volleyball seniors crossed gym courts, local schools and the state as they matured from underhand servers into the soaring spirited air of competition sports. Where they land is the wondrous journey still left on the horizon. Following are snippets from their senior bios.
Braith Dihle
2026 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Braith Dihle with family and friends at the Crimson Bears volleyball senior appreciation. (Juneau Independent)
Fondest Memory: Getting to play on the same court as older sister, winning regions sophomore year, and dance parties in the locker room.
Advice To Give: Stay positive, be kind and don’t get discouraged.
Wisdom Absorbed: Smile.
Plans After Season: Winter club volleyball, spending time with family and friends…attending the University of Alaska Anchorage for Diagnostic Imaging.
Influences: Arnold Ibias, coach from Thunder Mountain Volleyball Club and teammate in co-ed parks and rec. A calm but steady coach who gave long hours of extra practice... kindness and wisdom on and off the court… words of wisdom that will follow in many aspects of her life. Jody Levernier, JDHS coach was a friendly face during transition from TMHS to JD…her openness to all and the time she puts into the program.
Cambry Lockhart
2026 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Cambry Lockhart with family and friends at the Crimson Bears volleyball senior appreciation. (Juneau Independent)
Fondest Memory: Winning regions sophomore year and benefiting greatly from that group of girls and learning from their leadership and companionship.
Advice To Give: Be kind, work hard and stay positive with each other.
Wisdom Absorbed: Smile - from Coach Avei.
Plans After Season: Play basketball and club volleyball. Attend UAS for a year with hopes of pursuing a career working with kids.
Influences: Coach Kim… a constant supporter no matter the team or school…a positive person, a fixture to see at practice and games…made volleyball career incredibly valuable…her teachings are things held close and are looked for in others.
Michelle Meeks
2026 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Michelle Meeks with family and friends at the Crimson Bears volleyball senior appreciation. (Juneau Independent)
Fondest Memory: Cheering with and for my teammates.
Advice To Give: Never give up when times get tough.
Wisdom Absorbed: You can do hard things.
Plans After Season: Club volleyball in winter, softball in spring. Plans to study anthropology in college.
Influences: Parents and aunties.
Gwen Nizich
2026 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Gwen Nizich with family and friends at the Crimson Bears volleyball senior appreciation. (Juneau Independent)
Fondest Memory: Slamma Jamma in Sitka when she and Finley doubled blocked off their heads to score a point.
Advice To Give: Value your team, nurture those relationships.
Wisdom Absorbed: Believe in yourself and carry confidence even when it’s tough as it can uplift the whole team.
Plans After Season: Play basketball and softball. Attend a university to study Biochemistry/Pre-Health and pursue career in medical field.
Influences: Ms. Razor consistently holds work ethic accountable, inspires students to strive for excellence in academics and athletics.
Lorelie Urrutia-Lugo
2026 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Lorelie Urrutia-Lugo with family and friends at the Crimson Bears volleyball senior appreciation. (Juneau Independent)
Fondest Memory: Did the worm in front of Kayhi student section (imitating a fish).
Advice To Give: Assert dominance early to get the respect deserved as a player.
Wisdom Absorbed: Don’t be afraid of taking six or seven extra steps to the ball.
Plans After Season: Getting nails done by best friend Zoey Lam. Attending UAS, then another university to earn history degree.
Influences: Mr. Knight, a man of wisdom, yet is funny and says the most out of pocket stuff to his class.
Lavinia Ma’ake
2026 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Lavinia Ma'ake with family and friends at the Crimson Bears volleyball senior appreciation. (Juneau Independent)
Fondest Memory: Sophomore year against Kayhi, a shanked ball about to drop between her and Lockhart… long story short, both went for it, Ma’ake accidentally elbowed Lockhart resulting in month-long big puffy purple eye.
Advice To Give: Stay on top of grades and avoid pink slips.
Wisdom Absorbed: Avei Tuvaifale - Smile.
Plans After Season: Work and play club volleyball and prepare for a church mission and travel.
Influences: Coach Avei, man of few words but a lot of jokes…no words can express the appreciation…a constant cheerleader through career…listened to every complaint or problem…gave advice, laughed and never gave up through a long four years.
Neela Thomas
2026 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Neela Thomas with family and friends at the Crimson Bears volleyball senior appreciation. (Juneau Independent)
Fondest Memory: Winning regions last year.
Advice To Give: Make strong connections with teammates because you find some of your favorite people through sports.
Wisdom Absorbed: Just have fun, try your best, because it will be over too soon.
Plans After Season: Enjoy senior year.
Influences: Teammates, supporting and encouraging to be the best.
Tearamae Alexander
2026 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Tearamae Alexander with family and friends at the Crimson Bears volleyball senior appreciation. (Juneau Independent)
Fondest Memory: Petersburg sophomore year. Played all the way around, PSG served. On attempted dig ended up hitting face and fell backwards onto derriere.
Advice To Give: Always have snacks and water, don’t break your foot, have fun.
Wisdom Absorbed: Have a memory of a goldfish.
Plans After Season: Keep my grades up, get a job, decide on college studies.
Influences: Paige Adams instilled the love of volleyball, and provided encouragement to keep going.
Kaylee Koelsch
2026 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kaylee Koelsch with family and friends at the Crimson Bears volleyball senior appreciation. (Juneau Independent)
Fondest Memory: Playing Haines at JIVE…rushing across court to play a ball, tripping over someone’s foot and faceplanted…funny and shocking…got up to act like nothing happened…chaotic but hilarious.
Advice To Give: Always bring water, don’t forget jersey, don’t break ankles, try to enjoy it all because someday you’ll miss even the stressful days…important to make the most out of every moment and have fun.
Wisdom Absorbed: Small stuff isn’t worth stressing over, hard days don’t last forever, keep pushing forward because things get better in the end.
Plans After Season: Stay on top of grades, make the most of track and field season, graduate.
Influences: Friends Nina and Nevaeh have shown how to be a great friend and teammate to all. Fun to be around, know how to push through anything and never give up. Inspiring to stay true to self.
Natalia Harris
2026 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Natalia Harris with family and friends at the Crimson Bears volleyball senior appreciation. (Juneau Independent)
Fondest Memory: Getting to travel to Barrow (Utqiagvik).
Advice To Give: Be yourself and have fun, it’s never that deep.
Wisdom Absorbed: Try your best and never give up.
Plans After Season: Finish senior year and have fun. Study occupational therapy in Hawaii.
Influences: Mother Karen.
