The Cook Inlet Conference was no match for the South Wolverines, who dropped just a single set during the tournament on their way to raising the trophy Saturday night.

Led by the arm of senior outside Indy Kmet, who contributed seven kills and an ace in the third set alone, the Wolverines claimed the conference crown from the reigning champion Dimond Lynx with a 23-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-20 victory at Service High School.

The Wolverines are big on fully trusting in each other, according to Kmet and sophomore outside Loryn Peterson, and it shows in how they play.

“Any championship game is nerve wracking, but I really believe that our team went in with just trust,” said Kmet, who pitched in at least three points in every set. “The overall vibe of everybody on the court was that we love each other and that we trust (each other), and I think that really showed up.”

“I couldn’t have done any of that without my teammates,” said Peterson. “Everyone was just so supportive and just so happy in the middle. They’re always just trying to build off of everything, even if I mess up. And it just felt like a really great place to be.”

Peterson came up clutch in the match’s waning moments, contributing two of the Wolverines’ final five points alongside a kill from senior middle Ellie Birch and a block by Birch and Kmet.

“There were some points where I felt doubt creeping in, but then I was like ‘no, we got this,’” said Peterson. “I just need to be back in my body, and just swing and hit the ball.”

Dimond eked out a win in the first set with a last minute come-from-behind drive to secure it 25-23. A late timeout turned the tide when it counted, as the Lynx tied it up 23-23 behind two key kills from junior outside Nia Cook, an ace from freshman middle Tatum Trombley and a South error.

Despite a South timeout looking to ice the Lynx’s run, Cook came up with a block that both gave her team the late lead and earned her shocked elation from the Lynx squad.

This was Dimond’s third match of the day after the Lynx battled through the consolation bracket earlier on Saturday, sweeping Service and then sweeping Chugiak to earn the right to face South. Dimond is the only Alaska team to beat South this season on Sept. 18.

The Wolverines have since won 31 matches in a row and will carry that unbeaten streak into next week’s ASAA Class 4A state tournament, which will take place Nov. 13-15 at the Alaska Airlines Center.

South is angling to reclaim the state trophy that they last held in 2019.

“This year is going to be one of the best years at South, and I’m just so grateful I get to play with all these seniors,” said Peterson. “And I just really want to go take the state title with them.”

“The vast majority of our team is seniors, and so we’re all just trying to live every moment to the fullest and leave it all out there and really give it our all,” added Kmet. “It’s really exciting to go into state with such a talented team and I’m really excited for it.”