Warriors win second straight volleyball state title

Different path, same result.

Last year, Wasilla swept its way to its first state volleyball title in more than two decades. This season, the Warriors suffered a loss during the first day of the state tournament. Wasilla faced elimination, and won four straight matches and the if necessary game.

Now, the Warriors are back-to-back champs.

The Warriors clinched their second straight 4A title with a 30-22 win over the South Anchorage Wolverines in the if necessary tiebreaker during the final day of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Volleyball Championships Saturday afternoon at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

The Warriors powered through wins over Soldotna, Dimond, Service and South during the double-elimination tournament en route to their second straight state crown and third in program history. The extra work came after a tough 3-2 loss to South Thursday evening.

Wasilla’s seniors came through with big points during the final stretch of the deciding game. A Layla Hays kill gave Wasilla a 27-19 lead. Kenadee Sheldon served an ace to make it 28-19. Hays and Mylee Anderson combined on a block to the advantage to 10 points, at 29-19.

Junior Ki Schachle found a hole in the final of the South defense for the kill and final point of the tournament.

Senior Allison Devine was named the best hitter of the tournament. Devine, Hays and Anderson each earned all-tournament honors.

Wasilla never trailed during the final game. The Warriors pushed their lead to eight points with a 5-0 run. A Schachle ace and a Hays kill gave Wasilla its first double-digit lead of the game at 19-9. Wasilla held a lead of at least three points for the remainder of the game.

Wasilla forced the if necessary game with a 3-1 (25-13, 21-25, 28-26, 25-19) in the championship match. Arguably the most pivotal stretch of the match came in the final moments of the third set, with the rivals tied at one set each. South led 24-21, and the Warriors used a 7-2 run to prevent the Wolverines from notching set point and to earn the set win. Anderson started the run with a kill. Hays used consecutive kills to tie the score at 24. Devine also had back-to-back kills, including a blast over the net, to give the Warriors a 27-26 lead. A Hays block sealed the set for Wasilla.

Wasilla built an early lead in the third game, stretching the advantage to 10-3, before the Wolverines climbed back.

The Warriors also jumped to a big lead early in the first game. The Warriors built leads of 14-2 and 17-5.

Wasilla moved into the championship match with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-16) win over Service Saturday morning in the final match of the consolation side of the bracket.

Wasilla scored a big 3-1 (25-19, 26-24, 17-25, 25-22) win over Dimond, the Cook Inlet Conference champ, Friday evening. The Warriors erased a 10-point deficit during the decisive fourth set against the Lynx. Dimond played to a 16-6 lead, but the Warriors used an 11-1 run to tie the score at 17. Hays, Devine and Anderson used big plays to help the Warriors cement the win. A Hays kill tied the set a 21. Devine had a kill and a block to give Wasilla a 23-22 lead. Anderson had kills on the final two points, including dumping the ball over the net to give Wasilla the 25-22 win.

Earlier in the day, Wasilla swept Northern Lights Conference rival Soldotna 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-18).

South knocked Wasilla into the consolation side of the double-elimination bracket with a 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 25-12, 21-25, 15-8) over the Warriors. Wasilla opened its state tourney play with a 3-1 (17-25, 25-15, 25-19, 25-20) victory over Chugiak in the quarterfinals.

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