Soldotna volleyball defeats Seward

Published 9:01 pm Wednesday, September 17, 2025

The host Soldotna volleyball team defeated Seward 25-14, 25-10, 18-25 and 25-14 on Thursday in nonconference volleyball action.

The Stars move to 7-2 in nontournament play, while the Seahawks fall to 2-3.

The Stars play at the Class 4A level and finished tied for fifth at state last season. Seward head coach Jodi Kurtz said her squad could have dropped to Class 2A last season, but the Seahawks stayed at Class 3A and were able to take fourth at state.

The coach loves the competitiveness at the 3A and 4A level.

“They’ve got a lot of really powerful hitters,” Kurtz said of the Stars. “Coming to play against a team like that, they’re going to work hard, and it’s good for them.”

Kurtz said her squad lost two to graduation, but one was the full-time setter. Kirra DesErmia has taken over most of the setting duties.

“We’re kind of starting over with the setter,” Kurtz said. “She’s doing really good. She’s improving all the time. It’s just something we’re working out.”

The Seahawks also were without veteran outside hitter Mikinley Williams for a stretch early in the season due to injury.

“It kind of teaches them you can’t have all your players on the court, so you have to learn to play without them,” Kurtz said.

SoHi’s powerful hitters were able to prevail in the first two games. Morgan Simac had 14 kills, 14 digs and four aces, while Gracelyn Altobelli had eight kills. Soldotna coach Luke Baumer said Simac provided steady leadership throughout the match.

Baumer wanted to get some more players in the game in the third set. The Seahawks quickly pounced to the 25-18 victory.

Baumer put the regulars back in late in the game, but he said the Seahawks are dangerous once they have momentum.

“We weren’t able to keep the pressure on them with offense,” Baumer said. “They have a really scrappy defense, just digging, throwing up arms and getting balls back over the net.”

With the regulars back in, SoHi won Game 4.

Kurtz said Lia Shank had a nice game in the middle, working hard to dig a lot of balls. Regan Siebert also was strong hitting on the outside.

The Seahawks get right back in action Friday, Sept. 19, when they travel to Homer for a Southcentral Conference match at 6:30 p.m.

For SoHi, Teagen Kobylarz had 28 assists, while Grayson Henry had 16 digs, and Ashlyn Hall and Hayden Vidal had two blocks apiece.

The Stars now have a nice break until playing at Service at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25. They stay in Anchorage for the West Spiketacular on Friday and Saturday.

Baumer said the team gets a three-day weekend off, then some much-needed practice.

“It’ll be a good test to kind of get back into it and see how we can refind our chemistry that we had in the beginning on defense,” he said.

Seward was able to drop tips in front of the Stars on Thursday. That was after Nikiski was effective with offspeed attacking in a four-set victory over the Stars on Tuesday.

“I told the girls word travels fast in this state,” Baumer said. “When we go to Service and the West Spike, I guarantee you that offspeed is something they’re going to want to get us on.

“We’ve got to fix that fast.”