Rams finish second in 2A state volleyball tourney

With three straight wins on the bottom side of the bracket, Susitna Valley was building momentum. And then the Rams ran into their volleyball nemesis. Their kryptonite in 2024.

The Unalaska Raiders.

The Raiders stormed to a 3-0 (25-15, 25-7, 25-20) victory over Su Valley in the title match, during the final day of the ASAA/First National Bank 2A State Volleyball Championships Saturday afternoon at Palmer High School.

Unalaska had Su Valley’s number throughout the 2024 season, posting a 6-0 mark against the Rams prior to Saturday’s match. In seven total best-of-5 matches this season, Unalaska swept the Rams six times.

Su Valley did make it interesting in the third set of the match. Unalaska jumped to a quick 10-1 lead and extended it to 15-2. The Rams answered with a 15-2 run and tied the set at 17. The Raiders closed the decisive third set with an 8-3 run.

Su Valley won four matches in the double-elimination tournament. The Rams opened with a 3-1 (19-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-20) win over Glennallen. Sand Point swept Su Valley 3-0 (25-5, 25-17, 25-22). But the Rams bounced back with three straight wins in elimination matches. Su Valley beat Koliganek 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-21), Wrangell (25-12, 25-19, 18-25, 26-24) and Sand Point 3-1 (24-26, 25-18, 25-16, 26-24) in a rematch.

The Rams advanced to the 2A final and finished as the runner-up for the second straight season. Birchwood Christian beat the Rams in the if necessary game last year.

Su Valley was in search of its first state championship since 2021.

Su Valley earned some major awards following the tourney. Sophomore Jayden Sliker was named Best Setter and senior Ashley deLima was tabbed as the Best Server. Sliker and deLima were also named all-tournament.

The Rams earned the Academic Award with a 3.91 grade point average.

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