The Kenai Central volleyball team celebrated senior night by defeating Soldotna 25-12, 25-10 and 26-24 on Thursday in nonconference action.
The Kardinals finish the regular season at 13-1 in nontournament play, while Soldotna is 7-7. The Stars finish their regular season by hosting Colony on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Kenai honored seniors Emma Beck, Jaycie Castillo, Camilla Gonzalez, Grace Beiser and Madison Richmond.
In the past four years, the Kardinals have only lost one game on their home floor — earlier this season to Wasilla.
Beck, who had 25 kills and 10 digs, pointed out that impressive run at home is about so much more than the seniors.
“We had so many people above and before us, who helped when I was a freshman, because I definitely don’t contribute as much as I do now,” she said. “The seniors my freshman year always made sure to lift us up.”
The senior also said the underclassmen have played a huge role in the success.
“I’m just really proud of our underclassmen and just my teammates in general because they came out not just representing themselves or Kenai, but you could tell they wanted to do better for the seniors and represent us in the best way they could,” Beck said.
The result was dominant volleyball, particularly in the first two sets.
Kenai head coach Tracie Beck said the Kards gave away a lot of points on errors Tuesday in a victory over Nikiski.
The coach said it means something to win despite the errors, but she prefers a performance like Thursday.
“I have high expectations for these kids, because you see them at their best and you want them to play their best, especially in their last home games on their court,” coach Beck said. “Today, I felt like they did that.
“It’s an emotional night for all of us.”
Castillo had 18 digs and four assists, while Gonzalez had 14 digs and Grace Beiser had four kills and five digs. Richmond is a junior varsity player.
Coach Beck said all the seniors had great matches.
“I think they’ll look back at this night with admiration and fun, but yet feel celebrated and loved,” coach Beck said. “It was a good night.”
Kate Wisnewski added 27 assists and four digs for the Kardinals, while Avia Miller had three kills.
“Kenai did a really good job of being able to be all around tonight,” Soldotna head coach Luke Baumer said. “Their serving was on, their defense was on and their offense was on.
“They did a great job putting the ball everywhere and they mixed it up.”
Baumer said his squad’s serve-receive was on all night. However, he said SoHi had too many serving errors. Offensively, Baumer said the Stars have been working hard on their attack the last month and a half, and had their worst night since that work began.
In the third set, Baumer said he threw a different look at the Kardinals, with Kate Curtis and Cassidy Kruse getting some time.
“We gave them a different look to see if we could throw them off a bit and it seemed to work,” Baumer said.
Sadie Lane, who had nine kills, had an ace to tie the game at 24.
Beck gave the Kardinals a 25-24 lead with cat-quick reflexes that dumped the ball over the net into an open area, then finished the match with a kill.
Kenai looked ready to defend its Southcentral Conference and Class 3A state volleyball championships, but Emma Beck didn’t agree.
“I think we have so much more to grow in the next couple weeks,” she said. “We have a week, and hopefully two weeks, to put into our offense and never be content with where we are now.”
Kiara Forkner had eight digs for SoHi, while Morgan Simac had six kills, Abygale Shaeffer had two aces and Nicole Dickinson had two aces.
Soldotna’s Athena Rossiter and Abygale Shaeffer put up a block on Kenai Central’s Avia Miller on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
