The Kenai Central volleyball team defeated Nikiski in five sets Friday to reach the finals of the Southcentral Conference volleyball tournament at Nikiski Middle-High School.
The Kardinals, No. 1 from the South, are seeking a fourth straight conference title and wrapped up a fifth straight Class 3A state berth. The Kards topped the Bulldogs, No. 2 from the South, 25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 23-25 and 15-7.
Sophie Tapley had 12 kills for Kenai, while Stella Selanoff had nine, Avia Miller had eight and Sarah Baisden had seven. Kate Wisnewski had 47 assists.
Brynnen Hansen had 39 digs, while Selanoff had 29, Tapley had 27 and Wisnewski had 24. Ellsi Miller had five blocks, while Selanoff had three. Sarah Baisden had four aces.
For Nikiski, Kailey Stynsberg had 26 digs, while Evelyn Reichert and Avery Ellis each had 23. Ellis had 24 assists.
Alexa Iyatunguk had 14 kills and six blocks, while Ashlynne Playle had 13 kills. Mandee Roofe added seven kills and six blocks.
Iyatunguk, Reichert and Mille Hornung had four aces apiece.
Kenai plays in the championship at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. Kenai’s opponent will be determined at 10 a.m. Saturday, when Nikiski faces off with Seward, No. 3 from the South. The Nikiski-Seward winner gets an automatic berth to state.
The Seahawks survived a long day of play in the playback bracket Friday.
The day started with Homer, No. 4 from the South, defeating Redington, No. 3 from the North, 25-17, 25-12 and 25-13, while Grace Christian, No. 2 from the North, defeated Houston, No. 4 from the North, 25-22, 25-17 and 25-17.
In the next round, Seward defeated Homer 25-22, 28-26 and 25-22, and Mountain City Christian Academy, No. 1 from the North, defeated Grace 25-17, 25-8 and 25-12.
The Seahawks then pulled off a 23-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-19 and 15-9 victory over the Lions to reach the match with Nikiski.
At the Northern Lights Conference tournament at Colony, Soldotna, the No. 2 seed, lost to top seed Wasilla in the semifinals 25-22, 24-26, 25-21 and 25-19. The Warriors earn a Class 4A state berth.
Sarah Brown had 25 assists and 19 digs for the Stars, while Sadie Lane had 16 digs and Veronica Crane had 12 digs.
Sadie Lane had 11 kills, while Morgan Simac and Hallie Fischer each had seven.
Abygale Schaeffer, Simac and Lane each had three aces.
At 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, the Stars takes on No. 4 seed Colony in the playback bracket final. The winner gets a state berth and a spot in the 6 p.m. final against the Warriors, the defending conference and Class 4A state champ.
