Longtime Dimond head coach Kim Lauwers holds court. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Baked into a double-elimination tournament’s DNA, one team must always represent the loser’s bracket come finale time.
Alas, Dimond took on said role Saturday and didn’t dither. In fact, the Lynx dominated en route to another Class 4A state volleyball championship.
In front of a lively Alaska Airlines Center crowd, Dimond avenged a loss in Thursday’s second round by clawing its way through the loser’s bracket Friday and Saturday to once again face Cook Inlet Conference upstart West. The Lynx swept away the Eagles in the initial match 25-10, 27-25, 26-24 before winning the “if necessary” set, 30-20.
“You know you have to dig deeper (in the loser’s bracket) because there’s no margin for error,” said tournament outstanding setter Jolee Kelzenberg, one of Dimond’s 10 seniors. “We had to have a strong mentality, and we stayed strong.
“We knew to trust everyone on the team.”
Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Dimond capped its 46-7 season by capturing its 4A-best 16th championship dating back to 1972 and fifth in seven seasons. It flipped the script from last season when arch-nemesis South won the title match and “if” set to gain state supremacy.
The Alaska School Activities Association made the state volleyball change to double elimination in 2012. Saturday marked the fourth time the champ survived out of the loser’s bracket and also won the decisive “if” set (2022 Dimond, 2021 South, 2016 Dimond and 2012 Dimond).
Softball is ASAA’s only other state championship event featuring the double-elimination format. It may be just a matter of time before athletes and coaches from other sports lobby for similar opportunities.
Regardless, Dimond yet again earned every bit of its lofty status as state champion.
Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
After losing to West (40-13-2) in four sets Thursday, the Lynx powered past Thunder Mountain, Wasilla and Colony to reach the title match. The CIC regular-season and conference-tournament winners scored 16 of the first 21 points in the first set versus the Eagles setting a tone from the jump.
The outside hitting of Lauren Sulte and Delaney Fagerstrom and consistent middle blocking from Elaina Alfano seldom subsided. Sulte turned in 13 kills in the championship match while Fagerstrom added six in the main match and seven huge kills in the “if” set.
“We wanted it so bad and really came through with the needed tenacity,” Fagerstrom said. “We fought for the win all night.”
The second set featured a bevy of individual athletic feats on each side of the net. West earned an early 14-6 edge before Dimond answered with 15 of the final 22 points. The third set stayed close -14-13 West at one point – before the Lynx turned on the afterburners and forced the “if” set.
Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Dimond served up six aces in the decisive set and most of the offense went through Fagerstrom along the front row’s left side. She delivered match point off a serve from West senior Lia Boxler.
West finished third in last week’s CIC conference tournament. It showcased a real hammer in senior Salvation Elia (9 kills) and received five blocks from senior Quincy Brown.
The Eagles only state championship came back in 1984 when Prince ruled the airwaves with When Doves Cry. They advanced to the 4A finale for the second time since losing to Dimond in 2018 and met the Lynx play for play much of the evening.
Unfortunately, the Lynx didn’t let up.
Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
“I’ve got to say this was an awesome experience and we tried to take in every moment,” said West senior Reece Kowal, daughter of former UAA hockey player and coach Jack Kowal. “I’m so grateful that we made it this far. It was so surreal.
“Tonight, we didn’t come together as a team like we did the last few days.”
Another high school volleyball season concluded in another championship for Dimond and coach Kim Lauwers. She’s guided the Lynx to 11 of the school’s titles, her first coming back in 1993. Kelzenberg said players cherish every moment playing for Lauwers, who further cemented her status as a genuine coaching luminary here in Anchorage.
“What’s an amazing coach,” Kelzenberg said. “She does more in her free time than any other coach, and she’s been there for us the entire season.”
SIDEOUTS
- West coach Jaige Gerig secured a title match appearance in her second season guiding the Eagles. She had previously spent coaching C and junior varsity at both West and Dimond.
- Dimond needed 152 total minutes to win the first match and “if” set.
- It’s hard to argue the Alaska Airlines Center being the most attractive venue in Southcentral. While the upper deck is seldom open for sporting events, it was bit unnerving to see four East-end sections tarped off completely.
- Dimond’s Fagerstrom, Kelzenberg and Kailei Muehlenkamp were named to the all-tournament team. Elia, Brown and Boxler represented West.
Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Alaska School Activities Association/First National Bank Alaska
State Volleyball
Class 4A
At Alaska Airlines Center
Saturday
Championship
Dimond 3, West 0 (Dimond also wins “if necessary” set)
Outstanding Defensive Specialist: Marija Wunnicke, South Anchorage
Outstanding Setter: Jolee Kelzenberg, Dimond
Outstanding Server: Taylee Weiss, Colony
Outstanding Hitter: Salvation Elia, West Anchorage
All-Tournament Team
Taylee Weiss, Colony
TT Tagovailoa, Lathrop
Salvation Elia, West
Marija Wunnickie, South
Kailei Muehlenkamp, Dimond
Delaney Fagerstrom, Dimond
Mallory Welling, Thunder Mountain
Layla Hayes, Wasilla
Quincy Brown, West
Eliyah Pilgrim, Colony
Jolee Kelzenberg, Dimond
Lia Boxler, West
Congratulations to the Kenai Central Kardinals, your 2022 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska 3A Volleyball State Champions! @FNBAlaska pic.twitter.com/rYyzB9kcUF
— ASAA (@ASAA_org) November 13, 2022
Class 3A
Championship
Kenai Central 3, Valdez 0
Outstanding Defensive Specialist: Delaney Oh, Monroe Catholic
Outstanding Setter: Jorgi Phillips, Kenai
Outstanding Server: Momoe Togaga’e, Valdez
Outstanding Hitter: Emma Beck, Kenai
All-Tournament Team
Calani Holmes, Kenai
Delaney Oh, Monroe
Momoe Togaga’e, Valdez
Ava Brady, Sitka
Savanna Stock, Nikiski
Taylor Gorn, Nome-Beltz
Hayla Trigg, Sitka
Jorgi Phillips, Kenai
Sophea Stepovich, Monroe
Emma Beck, Kenai
Mason Holmes, Valdez
Kimberly Chanley, Kenai