Prep volleyball: Wasilla opens season with win over a team from Arizona

Aug. 25, 2006

By DARRELL L. BREESE/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - The mood of the Wasilla High volleyball team took a 180-degree turn Wednesday night.

After winning the first game of their season-opening match against the Mountain View High School Mountain Lions from Tucson, Ariz., the Warriors had to fight their way back to win a five-game thriller.

The victory came thanks to a gentle push of the ball from sophomore middle hitter Alana Wright, sealing a 3-2 (25-13, 21-25, 25-13, 20-25, 15-13) win.

&#8220I was just trying to get the ball over the net,” Wright said of he two-handed push which fell beyond a diving Mountain Lion player. &#8220I just didn't want it to fall on our side of the net. I never imagined that it would be the game-winner.”

Wright's score capped four-straight points by the Warriors. Wasilla had trailed 13-12 in the final game.

&#8220I just can't believe it,” Wright said. &#8220That was such an intense match. I'm just happy we got the win. I thought they had us for a while in the fifth game.”

The game was the first of the season for both teams, and marks a less than satisfactory start to the season for the visiting Mountain Lions.

&#8220You always want to win to start the season,” Mountain View coach Rick Ellis said. &#8220But I'm not disappointed with how we played. Wasilla is a solid team. It came down to which team could limit their mistakes in the final game, and sadly it was them.”

Mountain View came to Alaska with both its varsity and junior varsity teams to play in the Chugiak/East Invitational in Anchorage this weekend. Mountain View scheduled the game against Wasilla to fill out its trip north.

&#8220We started to talk with the coaches from Chugiak about two years ago, and that lead to an invitation to play in the tournament,” Ellis said. &#8220The bonding that the girls will get as a team during our five days here is the other reason we came north.”

Ellis said his team planned to hit the Alaska State Fair on Thursday, to add a little fun to their time in the state.

&#8220We had fun on the court tonight though,” Ellis said. &#8220I think both teams enjoyed themselves, and the fans were treated to a great volleyball match.”

The Warriors were loose throughout most of the match. Even when trailing in the fifth game, they were dancing to the music being played over the sound system in the huddle during their final time out despite being down by two points.

&#8220I think that is what makes this team different from last years,” Wright said. &#8220We have fun playing the game and with each other.”

Sophomore Jenna Johnson paced the Warriors tallying 16 kills, five aces and seven blocks. She had some help up front defensively from Saundra Fife, who also added seven blocks.

Outside hitter Ashlen Welch scored nine kills.

The Mountain Lions were had a balanced offensive attack, led by sophomore Lauren Hall, who had 11 kills. Teammates Courtnie McIntosh and Heather Pack each had seven kills.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.