The Kenai Central volleyball team defeated Nikiski 25-14, 25-19 and 25-17 to win the Southcentral Conference tournament Saturday at Grace Christian in Anchorage.
The Kardinals (17-1) won the conference tournament for the third straight season. In 2020, when there was no conference tournament due to the pandemic, Kenai won the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District championship.
Kenai earned a fourth straight berth to the Class 3A state tournament by making the final, while Nikiski (17-8) earned a second straight berth. The Kards are the defending state champions.
Earlier Saturday, Nikiski defeated Seward 25-17, 22-25, 25-16, 21-25 and 15-7 to in the playback bracket to make state. The Seahawks are 10-7 and did not earn an at-large berth to state as the third place team out of the Southcentral Conference.
Kenai’s Emma Beck was the MVP of the league for the second straight season, while Tracie Beck, Emma’s mother, was Coach of the Year.
“I’m super proud of them,” Tracie Beck said of her team. “They came to regions knowing their goal and did everything to reach it. They just had a phenomenal region tournament.”
The coach gave her squad credit for improving throughout the season, knowing that every team wanted to beat the defending state champs. Tracie Beck also gave credit to Emma for continuing to roll up high numbers even though everybody knows who she is.
“She’s a fierce competitor and it’s fun to watch,” Tracie Beck said. “She loves her teammates and they know that.”
Kenai had some big shoes to fill after losing four senior starters last season. Coach Beck gave credit to first-team all-conference players Kate Wisnewski, a setter, and Jaycie Castillo, a libero, for stepping up in a big way.
“Jaycie has such a fun personality, but she’s all business when she gets on the court,” coach Beck said. “Kate has been a dream to work with. She works her butt off every day.”
Wisnewski had 22 assists in the title match. Castillo had 32 digs, while Wisnewski had 11 and Beck had eight. Wisnewski and Beck had three aces.
Beck led with 17 kills, while Grace Beiser had five and Sophie Tapley and Avia Miller had four apiece. Beck and Ellsi Miller each had two blocks.
Nikiski coach Stacey Segura said she was proud of the way her squad collected another state berth despite two big injuries.
Avery White missed the entire season with a knee injury, and Ashlynne Playle was lost midway through the season with an ankle injury. Playle still made the Southcentral Conference first team.
The coach said the battle with Seward for the state berth was fierce.
“The girls didn’t get outworked,” Segura said. “We knew Seward was coming after us.”
The coach said Alexa Iyatunguk, a first-teamer, and Evelyn Reichert both had big tournaments. Iyatunguk moved to middle blocker after the Playle injury and Segura said Iyatunguk is very smart as a hitter. The coach said Reichert brings a heavy hit from the outside.
Iyatunguk had nine kills and eight blocks against Seward, while Reichert had seven kills and 20 digs. Segura also said Mandee Roofe, who had 10 kills and nine blocks, was big in Game 5.
Also for Nikiski, Abby White had 22 digs, Kailey Stynsberg had 33 digs, Zoey Ellis had seven kills and Avery Ellis had 20 assists.
In the championship against Kenai, Segura said her squad played the Kards well, but continuing to make certain mistakes hurt the Bulldogs.
First-teamer Maggie Grenier had 15 digs and seven assists, while Avery Ellis had 15 digs and seven assists, Reichert had 14 digs and Iyatunguk had nine kills.
The Class 3A state tournament opens at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Thursday. Kenai plays Nome-Beltz in the first round at 11:45 a.m., while Nikiski faces Barrow at 3:15 p.m.
Southcentral Conference awards
MVP — Emma Beck, Kenai.
Coach of the Year — Tracie Beck, Kenai.
First team — Robin Cronin, Seward; Channing Lowney, Homer; Jaycie Castillo, Kenai; Jieaya Siatini, MCCA; Mikinley Williams, Seward; Alexa Iyatunguk, Nikiski; Kate Wisnewski, Kenai; Maggie Grenier, Nikiski; Grace Gillespie, Houston; Ashlynne Playle, Nikiski; Olivia Jones, Grace; Rebecca Trowbridge, Homer; Dallas Winter, Houston; MJ Van der Horst, Grace.
Second team — Ruth Land, MCCA; Reodora Konev, Redington; Sophie Lentfer, Grace; Kailey Stynsberg, Nikiski; Camilla Gonzalez, Kenai; Andi Robson, Houston; Camila Bost, Grace; Ashlynn Warner, Redington; Regan Baker, Homer; Avia Miller, Kenai; Alycen Hunter, Houston; Kyana Hutchinson, Seward; Jordan Hartman, Seward; Zoey Ellis, Nikiski; Alexia Pike, Redington; Eliana Rice, Redington; Josie Evans-Grant, Grace; Alexandra Casey, Homer; Jenna Houck, MCCA.
Honorable mention — Mandee Roofe, Nikiski; Ellsi Miller, Kenai; Michaela Anakanok, Houston.
Good sport awards — Sophie Lentfer, Grace; Robin Cronin, Seward; Jocelyn Abada, Houston; Grace Beiser, Kenai; Aiden Cress, Homer; Melinda Kelly, Redington; Charlotte Pankion, MCCA; Zoey Ellis, Nikiski.
Class 3A state tournament
Thursday’s games
Game 1 — Valdez vs. Sitka, 10 a.m.
Game 2 — Kenai vs. Nome, 11:45 a.m.
Game 3 — Mt. Edgecumbe vs. Eielson, 1:30 p.m.
Game 4 — Barrow vs. Nikiski, 3:15 p.m.
Game 5 — Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5:15 p.m.
Game 6 — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m.
Friday’s games
Game 7 — Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 10 a.m.
Game 8 — Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 11:45 a.m.
Game 9 — Game 7 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 1:30 p.m.
Game 10 — Game 8 winner vs. Game 5 loser, 3:15 p.m.
Game 11 — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 5:15 p.m.
Game 12 — Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Game 13 — Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 10 a.m.
Championship — Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 2 p.m.
