Nikolaevsk set for Mix Six state tourney

Nikolaevsk set for Mix Six state tourney

The Nikolaevsk volleyball team will open play at the Mix Six state tournament at Dimond High School today after winning the Warriors’ sixth straight Denali Conference tournament on Nov. 17 at Kodiak High School.

The Warriors (12-6 overall) defeated Kodiak Emerging Small Schools 3-2 in the championship match at the conference tournament. This came after a 3-0 win against Anderson and a 3-0 victory against Kodiak ESS got them to the title game.

“The score in the final game was 15-13, so they really pushed us,” Nikolaevsk coach Bea Klaich said.

That’s just fine with Klaich, because the Warriors, who were fourth at state last season and have a top finish of runner-up, can be expected to be pushed at state.

There are three teams in each of the four pools, and only the top two in each pool advance to the Friday and Saturday championship bracket. Pool play consists of two games to 25 against the other two teams.

Nikolaevsk plays Tanalian at 3 p.m. and Unalakleet at 3:50 p.m. Tanalian was third at state last season, while Unalakleet was sixth.

“It’s going to be tough, but we have to make sure we come out of pool play,” Klaich said.

The Warriors lost a pair of matches to Tanalian in mid-October, while scoring a 3-0 victory against Unalakleet that Klaich said was closer than the score indicated.

Klaich said that last season, her squad defeated Point Hope in pool play, but Point Hope went on to win state, so the Warriors have to be ready for anything.

Senior captain Michael Trail was named the MVP of the conference, while junior Zachary Trail got all-tournament team honors. The Warriors also earned the team sportsmanship award.

Nikolaevsk had three make the All-Academic team by having a top-10 grade-point average in the conference — Markiana Yakunin, Sophia Klaich and Myah Monicken.

More in Sports

tease
Oilers topple Glacier Pilots in opener

The Peninsula Oilers opened their season by defeating the Anchorage Glacier Pilots… Continue reading

tease
Twins swept by Service

The American Legion Twins were swept in Anchorage by Service on Wednesday,… Continue reading

tease
Twins open season by stopping Dimond

The American Legion Twins opened their season by topping Dimond 16-3 on… Continue reading

tease
Oilers, Twins open seasons this week

The American Legion Twins and Peninsula Oilers open their 2023 seasons this… Continue reading

The Kenai River Brown Bears mob Ryan Finch after he scored the game-winning goal in overtime against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Browns Bears announce commitments for Holt, Finch

The Kenai River Brown Bears recently announced college commitments for Ryan Finch… Continue reading

Morgan Aldridge leads riders down a hill at the start of Week 3 of the Soldotna Cycle Series on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at Tsalteshi Trails. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Sterling’s Aldridge wins Eagle River Duathlon

Sterling’s Morgan Aldridge won the women’s overall at the Eagle River Duathlon… Continue reading

Soldotna's Trenton Ohnemus delivers to Kenai Central in the Division II state championship game Saturday, June 4, 2023, at Wasilla High School in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
SoHi tops Kenai to repeat as Division II state baseball champs

The Soldotna baseball team retained the Division II state title with a… Continue reading

tease
Kenai, Soldotna baseball to face off for state title

The Kenai Central and Soldotna baseball teams will play for the Division… Continue reading

tease
Kenai Central ends run at state softball tournament

The Kenai Central softball team ended its season with two losses Friday… Continue reading

Most Read