The host Soldotna volleyball team defeated Homer 25-15, 32-30 and 25-14 on Thursday in nonconference action.
The Stars improve to 3-2 overall, while the Mariners drop to 0-5 overall. Soldotna had just defeated Homer 3-2 on Friday, Sept. 1, in Homer.
Thursday’s match showed just how delicate the balance in volleyball is between serving too aggressively and not aggressively enough.
“Their serving was phenomenal today,” Homer head coach Ian Overson said of the Stars. “It was dropping out of the air and hitting the ground.
“It was very good serving on their part. My girls were touching the ball, they just couldn’t touch it in the right way.”
Soldotna head coach Luke Baumer had a different read on his team’s service game.
“Our serving, we struggled with that all match,” Baumer said. “We had a hard time getting our serves to be over and in.
“We want to be aggressive in our service, but at the same time, we don’t want to start serving so aggressively that we’re making mistakes.”
Baumer said the team missed 17 serves in three games, which is too many. The team missed 19 serves in the five games at Homer on Friday.
At the same time, Baumer said the big difference between Friday’s match in Homer and Thursday’s home match was that Homer struggled to get into its attack on Thursday. Overson agreed that his team’s struggles with passing was a decisive factor in the match.
“The tougher you serve, the more mistakes you’re going to make,” Baumer said. “And we understand that. But we should be hitting a number that’s a little bit less than 17.”
Sadie Lane had a big match for the Stars, with 11 kills, six digs and five aces.
“Her serve was just dropping out of the gym,” Overson said of Lane. “It came over the net and then dropped right at the 10-foot line. Amazing.”
Kiona Dexter added four aces for Soldotna, while Kiara Forkner had eight digs and Abygale Schaeffer had five kills.
“We switched to Abygale Schaeffer on the outside tonight and she did pretty good,” Baumer said. “She ended up with five kills, which was nice for a position that she just started learning two days ago.”
Baumer added that freshman Cassidy Kruse did a good job moving to middle blocker for Schaeffer.
The highlight of the match was Game 2, where Homer had three game points and Soldotna won by cashing in on its fifth game point of the game. Hallie Fischer finished off the game with a stuff block.
SoHi’s homecoming crowd had the gym rocking during the tense game.
“I think being at home helped a lot,” Overson said of the Stars. “Did we have our whole crowd with us? Yes. Did they do a good job for us? Yes.
“It’s one of those competitions where a home turf advantage usually does good.”
Gracie Miotke had six kills for the Mariners, while Channing Lowney had five kills, and Rebecca Trowbridge had two aces and 11 assists.
Wasilla topples Kenai
The Warriors defeated the Kardinals 25-20, 25-18, 25-27 and 25-14 on Thursday in nonconference action at Kenai.
Wasilla, one of the best Class 4A teams in the state this season, handed the Class 3A Kardinals their first loss on their home floor since Sept. 10, 2019. Kenai lost that day 3-1 to Homer.
The Kardinals are now 3-1 overall in nontournament play.
Emma Beck had 23 kills, 17 digs, two aces and two blocks to lead the Kardinals. Kate Wisnewski had 27 assists and 17 digs, while Sophie Tapley had five kills and two aces, Avia Miller had three blocks and Jaycie Castillo had 33 digs.
Nikiski starts Southeast trip 3-1
The Nikiski volleyball team started a trip to Southeast Alaska 3-1, defeating Mt. Edgecumbe on Wednesday and Thursday, and losing to Sitka on Wednesday before toppling the Wolves on Thursday. All matches were nonconference.
The Bulldogs improved to 4-1 overall and stay in Sitka to play Sitka and Mt. Edgecumbe both Friday and Saturday.
Wednesday, the Bulldogs topped the Braves 25-18, 25-16. Kailey Stynsberg had 15 digs, Zoey Ellis had six kills, Ashlynne Playle had six kills and three blocks, and Maggie Grenier had four aces.
Thursday, Nikiski defeated Mt. Edgecumbe 25-15, 25-16. Grenier had 13 digs and Playle had seven kills.
Wednesday, the Bulldogs lost to Sitka 25-21, 25-20, 17-25 and 25-21. Stynsberg had 15 digs, Grenier had 12 assists, Mandee Roofe had seven blocks and Ellis had seven kills.
Thursday, Nikiski came back to defeat the Wolves 24-26, 25-16, 25-14 and 25-18. Stynsberg had 14 digs, Grenier had 12 digs and 13 assists, Alexa Iyatunguk had 11 kills, Playle had 10 kills and eight blocks, Zoey Ellis had six kills and Avery Ellis had four aces.
Homer’s Alexandra Casey attacks against Soldotna’s Abygale Schaeffer on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna’s Abygale Schaeffer attacks against Homer’s Rebecca Trowbridge on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
