Soldotna volleyball outlasts Nikiski in a 5-setter

The visiting Soldotna volleyball team defeated Nikiski 22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 21-25 and 15-13 Tuesday in nonconference action.

With the Bulldogs’ 2024 Class 3A state championship banner hanging in the gym, the Class 4A Stars triumphed as both sides played a best-of-five match for the first time this season.

“It was back and forth the whole time,” Soldotna coach Luke Baumer said. “I have to say that Nikiski’s defense is super scrappy, and they definitely found a lot of weak points in our defense when it comes to offspeed stuff.

“So we’ve definitely got some things to work on, but I’m super happy with how our girls did.”

Late in the season, losing a five-setter by two points could be devastating. The loss has a different feel when it comes to a nonconference opponent early.

“I definitely expected it to be intense and I wanted it to be that way,” Nikiski coach Stacey Segura said. “I didn’t want one team to walk in and do a sweep.

“I wanted to push my team to see how far they could go.”

The Bulldogs pushed the Stars to a statistical performance unlike anything Baumer had seen in his seven years at the helm.

Cassidy Kruse had 30 kills, which is tied with Ituau Tuisaula for the most Baumer has had as SoHi’s head coach.

“Anytime she touched the ball, it was almost like a point,” Baumer said of Kruse, who was SoHi’s only returning starter from last season on the floor.

Kruse was playing at outside hitter for the first time after previously playing in the middle. Baumer said the attacking gave him something to think about, though returning starter and outside hitter Morgan Simac is expected back in a few weeks from an ankle injury.

Teagen Kobylarz had 43 assists, which breaks the record set under Baumer by Nicole Dickinson. Kobylarz will be the setter this season after returner Sarah Brown was lost before the season to a season-ending injury.

“She’s super fast and super scrappy on defense, and she did a really good job for us tonight,” Baumer said of Kobylarz. “We couldn’t be happier with her.”

Rebekah Pieh also set a new high under Baumer with nine blocks, breaking Adarra Hagelund’s record.

Also for SoHi, Grayson Henry had 23 digs, Gracelyn Altobelli had 20 digs and 13 kills and Ashlyn Hall had seven blocks.

All those sparkling numbers were just enough to overcome Nikiski in a fifth set that saw six ties and three lead changes.

With the score tied at 13, Kruse hammered a kill to get the serve to Kobylarz. Pieh then ended it with a stuff block.

“I would say we won because of communication on our defense and discipline on our defense, which is what we were talking about for the whole week,” Baumer said.

Even in the loss, the Bulldogs showed they once again will be a force.

Milly Hornung, who had 34 assists, returns at setter, while Mandee Roofe, who had nine kills and four aces, returns at middle hitter.

Blakeley Jorgensen, who had 13 kills and four blocks, also returns, but has been moved to the middle.

“I want to be able to use the middle attack as much as we can,” Segura said. “Obviously, our defense and passing has to be on par to be able to do that, and I thought they did a good job of that tonight.”

Hailey Hutchins, who had six kills, and Halle Blades, who had 13 digs and six kills, showed the Bulldogs also will be able to hit from the outside.

Abby White, who had 20 digs and two aces, also returns as a starter, but has been moved to libero. Evelyn Reichert, who had 19 digs and two aces, also returns but has been moved to the right side because she’s still recovering from a knee injury.

“So they’re all trying to relearn how to play together in different positions,” Segura said.

While a loss never feels good, Segura likes being in a position to build over the course of a season.

“I don’t think that any one team stood out,” she said. “I thought everyone played phenomenal defensively and on serve-receive.

“I thought both offenses were swinging appropriately, and I thought it was exciting. It could have gone either way.”