Nikolaevsk volleyball advances to championship bracket at state

Nikolaevsk volleyball advances to championship bracket at state

The Nikolaevsk volleyball team finished second in its bracket at the Mix Six state tournament at Dimond High School in Anchorage on Thursday to advance to the championship bracket.

The Warriors lost to Tanalian 2-0 before defeating Unalakleet 2-0. They then had to sweat it out when Unalakleet defeated Tanalian in the first game, but Tanalian came back to win the second game and go in as the No. 1 seed, while Nikolaevsk is No. 2.

The Warriors start championship bracket play Friday with a 2:45 p.m. match against Hoonah, the winner of Pool D.

Last year, Nikolaevsk won its pool, but Point Hope, the team that finished second in that pool, went on to win state.

“That’s what I’m hoping for,” Nikolaevsk coach Bea Klaich said. “It’s not that we didn’t play well. We played pretty solid, but some definitely had first-game jitters.”

For example, Klaich said freshman Justin Trail was making his debut at state and had up-and-down play.

Klaich chose Markiana Yakunin as the player of the pool from the Warriors. With boys jousting at the net, Klaich said covering up attacks and blocks is crucial. Yakunin exceled in that area all day.

The coach added that senior captain Michael Trail was steady all day and setter Elizabeth Fefelov did a good job getting to balls that were not passed perfectly.

More in Sports

Soldotna pitcher Trenton Ohnemus delivers to Kenai Central on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at the Soldotna Little League fields in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna’s Ohnemus throws no-hitter to topple Kenai

The Soldotna baseball team defeated Kenai Central 8-0 on Tuesday at the… Continue reading

tease
Tuesday soccer: Homer, Soldotna girls play to scoreless draw

The host Homer and Soldotna soccer teams played to a scoreless tie… Continue reading

TEASE
Tuesday softball: Soldotna topples Homer

The Soldotna softball team defeated Homer 13-3 in five innings Tuesday in… Continue reading

tease
Monday soccer: Soldotna sweeps Homer

The host Soldotna soccer teams swept Homer on Monday in Peninsula Conference… Continue reading

tease
Monday baseball: Soldotna baseball defeats Homer

The host Soldotna baseball team defeated Homer 12-6 on Monday in Northern… Continue reading

tease
Soldotna boys win Palmer Invitational

The Soldotna boys track and field team won the Palmer Invitational on… Continue reading

TEASE
Saturday: Chugiak softball tops SoHi in Bash on the Bay title game

The Chugiak softball team won the Bash on the Bay softball tournament… Continue reading

Nikiski goalie Kevin Love snatches the ball before Homer's Kaiden Bogie can head it Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Saturday soccer: Homer sweeps Nikiski

The Homer girls and boys soccer teams swept host Nikiski in Northern… Continue reading

tease
Saturday baseball: Kenai, Soldotna win on road; Homer loses

The Kenai Central baseball team went on the road to beat Grace… Continue reading

Most Read