Houston volleyball team making strides

Sept. 10, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

HOUSTON - After Houston's 3-2 volleyball loss to Kenai on Friday, Hawks head coach Christie Akelkok realized her small-school squad had just faced a team that advanced to the large-school state championships last season.

She was proud of her young group of spikers for building a two-game advantage against a big school program, but even more happy to realize her team just played a group with state tournament experience.

Houston won the first two games 25-23 and 25-18 before the Kardinals were able to rebound for the victory.

&#8220I don't think Kenai was expecting that,” Akelkok said.

At this point in the season, Houston's 1-5 overall record and 1-2 mark in conference play may be a little bit deceiving, or at least not evident of the program's progress. For a school that has struggled to win single games, let alone matches, in recent seasons, Houston has already notched many little victories.

First, Houston defeated conference rival Seward at HHS last week for the first time in 12 years. And second, the Hawks took a 4A program coming off a spot in the state tourney to a five games.

Akelkok said the key is the Hawks are beginning to realize they can come back after falling behind. Instead of getting down and staying down, Akelkok said, her players are learning how to get back up.

&#8220We're coming together as a team,” Akelkok said. &#8220The girls are playing a lot smarter, not just trying to get rid of the ball. They're talking, moving.”

Alena Katzenberger and Dana Ranum each grabbed six kills to lead the Hawks against Kenai.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.