Wasilla High School’s Layla Hays was voted our Alaska Athlete of the Week after logging 23 kills and 9 blocks to lift the Warriors to a Class 4A state title after beating South High in the title game and if-necessary super set.
The 6-foot-5 dual-sport star dominated play to deliver the Warriors their second straight title in the ASAA Class 4A State Volleyball Tournament in front of a big crowd at the Alaska Airlines Center.
Hays played big every step of the way, She scored eight of her team’s first 14 points in the first set and then had signature moments throughout the match. In the third set, Hays scored three of her team’s final seven points as the Warriors pulled out a 28-26 win after falling behind 24-21.
Hays, a senior, is a nationally ranked high school girls’ basketball player committed to play for the University of Iowa next year.
Also receiving consideration:
- Jason Bourdukofsky – The Anchorage Wolverines forward capped the Wolverines’ improbable North American Hockey League comeback Sunday when he scored at 16:56 of the third period. The goal was 18-year-old local product’s fourth of the season.
- Rosie Brennan – The Anchorage skier opened the cross-country ski season by winning both races at the Race to the Outhouse, the first FIS competition in North America this winter.
- Dylan Contreras – The UAA hockey team forward from Yorba Linda, Calif tallied his first collegiate goal in Friday’s 3-2 overtime home loss to UAF. On Saturday, the freshman pumped in a pair of empty-net goals in the victory.
- Ryan McCarthy – The UAA women’s basketball coach picked up his 300th career win, improving his record to 300-76 in 14 seasons. Now in his 13th season at UAA and 14th overall as head coach, the Peters Creek native stands No. 4 on the NCAA Division II lists for both active winning percentage and all-time winning.
- Allie Ostrander – The runner from Soldotna placed 2nd at USATF 10K Trail Championships in Bentonville, Arkansas. Ostrander finished her first ever trail national championships in a time of 43 minutes, 18 seconds to claim the runner-up spot.
