"Repeat."
The Lynx did just that Saturday night, dispatching the Colony Knights 27-25, 25-22, 25-22 in three hard-fought sets at West High to earn a second consecutive Class 4A state volleyball championship.
"That was kind of our catchphrase this year," said senior Taylor Adams, who put up her third consecutive monster match of the tournament with 18 kills and 12 blocks.
Adams, a four-year varsity player, finished off each set with a kill, ending her career on the highest possible note with a tip that glanced off the Colony defense and out of bounds to end the match.
"You can always count on Taylor to put it down," said senior libero Amanda Howard, who led Dimond with 20 digs.
The Knights opened the match with six straight points before the Lynx put together a 10-3 run en route to a 20-19 lead. Colony served for the set at 24-23, but a big Adams kill kept the Lynx alive. Four points later, it was Adams again going up high for the kill, ripping the set-winner through the Colony defense to give the Lynx a 27-25 victory.
Dimond coach Kim Lauwers said she was proud of the way her team was able to hang tough against a Colony team that pulled off an upset of Cook Inlet Conference champion Chugiak on Friday night.
"We just never gave up," she said.
The second set went much the same way, with the Knights jumping out to the early lead, Dimond coming on midway through, and both teams slugging it out at the finish. The difference again for Dimond was Adams, who closed out the 25-22 win with back-to- back kills to put her team within one game of a second consecutive state title.
Colony led 15-14 midway through the third before the Lynx again turned on the power. Adams had four kills in the final half of the match, while Taylor Reich added another.
Colony coach Amy Carter said her team simply ran into a Dimond squad that was at its best Saturday night.
"They just played really well," she said.
Colony got 10 kills from Sierra Hodgson and seven from Brittany Brown, but Knights middle hitter Shellina Irwin was somewhat neutralized, picking up just three kills and four blocks.
Dimond boasts the state's tallest front line, which Lauwers said played a big role in Saturday's win. Along with Katie Anderson, Abbey Pacolt and Taylor Aronwits, Adams helped Dimond build a wall at the net that was nearly impenetrable.
"If our block is there, our defense can play behind it," Lauwers said.
Kristi Lauwers was also big up front for the Lynx, picking up 11 kills and 19 digs. Lauren Addington had 16 assists, while Tyler Arnold added 15.
Adams said Saturday's win was the result of a team effort that required solid play from everyone.
"It starts from the bottom up," she said. "Volleyball is the epitome of team sports. It doesn't work if every facet of the game isn't working."
Both teams had large cheering sections, although the Lynx crowd was truly rabid. With nearly an entire section of bleachers commandeered by fans in maroon and gold chanting "DHS" early and often, the Lynx were a force both on and off the court. The Dimond fans formed a huge human tunnel following the match, with the Lynx players and coaches running through in celebration.
After coaching the Lynx to a second straight title, Lauwers said this year's title was as rewarding as last year's. With one exception.
"Now this year's team has a banner of their own," she said.
South trips Chugiak
The South and Chugiak volleyball teams expected to play each other at the state tournament. They just didn't think it would be on Saturday afternoon.
In a clash between Cook Inlet Conference powers who each fell victim to upsets in Friday's semifinals, South took out the Mustangs in five sets to capture third place. The match, which ended with a 24-26, 25-13, 25-13, 22-25, 17-15 victory for South, was a thrilling end to a disappointing tournament for both teams.
"They're already talking about getting into the weight room on Monday," South coach Judy Knecht said of her squad, which will graduate just four seniors.
Chugiak coach Kelly Kavanaugh said the Mustangs were proud they battled hard against the only team that beat them during the regular season.
"They're really happy with the way they played," he said.
Chugiak fought off two match points with big Robyn Burton kills before the Wolverines were able to get consecutive kills from Sarah Johnson. Johnson led South with 13 kills, Caroline Wilson added 10 and Morgan Hooe passed out 27 assists.
Burton had 12 kills and three blocks to lead Chugiak, which got seven kills and 18 digs from Emily Watzke and 34 assists from Kasey Kavanaugh.
Both coaches said they would have much preferred to play in the 8 p.m. in the final instead of the afternoon consolation match. But Chugiak's Kavanaugh said it wasn't meant to be, as both teams ran into squads that simply played better in the semifinals.
"I think yesterday there were too many teams thinking about tonight," he said.
In the match for fourth place, Soldotna got 14 kills and 18 digs from Shana Powell, 27 assists and 14 digs from Emily Rohloff and five kills and four blocks from Emily Rich to earn a three-set win over Palmer.
The 25-14, 25-18, 25-23 victory gave the Stars their best finish in school history.
All-tournament team
Kasey Kavanaugh, Chugiak; Nicole Cherrier, Palmer; Taylor Adams, Dimond; Shawna Powell, Soldotna; Sarah Johnson, South; Shellina Irwin, Colony; Julia Mackey, West Valley; Robyn Burton, Chugiak; Caroline Wilson, South; Emily Rohloff, Soldotna; Siobhan Johansen, Colony; Amanda Howard, Dimond
Outstanding server -- Morgan Hooe, South
Outstanding setter -- Siobhan Johansen, Colony
Outstanding hitter --Robyn Burton, Chugiak
Outstanding defensive specialist -- Amanda Howard, Dimond
Find Matt Tunseth online at adn.com/contact/mtunseth or call 257-4335.
ASAA action ASAA/First National Bank Alaska
Class 4A volleyball tournament
Championship: Dimond def. Colony, 27-25, 25-22, 25-22
3rd place: South def. Chugiak 24-26, 25-13, 25-13, 22-25, 17-15
4th place: Soldotna def. Palmer 25-14, 25-18, 25-23
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