The Susitna Valley volleyball team won the Borealis Conference volleyball tournament Saturday at Cook Inlet Academy by defeating Cordova in five sets.

Both teams advanced to the Class 2A state tournament next weekend.

Earlier Saturday, Cordova had clinched that state berth by defeating Unalaska 3-2 in the finals of the losers bracket.

Su Valley earned its place in the championship game Friday with a three-set sweep of Cordova in the semifinal round.

Host team Cook Inlet Academy and fellow peninsula rival Ninilchik both dropped out of contention Friday afternoon after each picked up a victory earlier in the day. CIA rallied back from a first-set loss against Birchwood Christian to win in dominating fashion 3-1, and Ninilchik beat Wasilla Lake Christian 3-0.

Ninilchik then lost 3-1 to Unalaska, while CIA lost a close 3-2 match to Lumen Christi. Lumen Christi and Unalaska then played, with Unalaska scoring a 3-1 win.

The most valuable player at the tournament was Leigha Peebles of Cordova. Unalaska won the sportsmanship award, while Chad Valentine of Su Valley was the coach of the year.

Also on the all-tournament team were Ruby Matthews of Su Valley, DeeAnn White of Ninilchik, Deborah Johnston of Su Valley, Chiamaka Lebechi of Lumen Christi, K. Orteza of Unalaska, Kaye Gumera of Unalaska, Breona DeLon of CIA and Kiana Schorr of Su Valley.

The all-conference team featured Peebles of Cordova, Matthews of Su Valley, Johnston of Su Valley, Gumera of Unalaska, White of Ninilchik, Orteza of Unalaska, Lebechi of Lumen Christi and DeLon of CIA.

The all-academic team included Tiffany Alexander, Lydra Smith, Hailey Nottingham and Andrea Rios of Birchwood Christian; Gumera and Mia McWilliams of Unalaska; Olivia Delgado of Ninilchik; Kaitlyn Wyckoff, Annalene Thorn, Esther Ley, Hanna Tankersley and Hannah Schaefer of Wasilla Lake Christian; Johnston, Haley Loper and Matthews of Su Valley; Natilie Dickhaus, Madeline Josey and Lebechi of Lumen Christi; and Shinaih Johnson and DeLon of CIA.

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Anna Cizek (left) and Cook Inlet Academy teammate Breona Delon both dive for a ball Friday at the Borealis Conference volleyball tournament held at CIA.