Dimond, South sweep

Top-seeded and undefeated South used a strong start to put together a 25-6, 25-20, 25-18 sweep of Wasilla and three-time defending champion Dimond was bolstered by strong serving and defense from Aaliyah Lewis in a 25-12, 25-14, 25-22 sweep of Juneau.

The CIC's other tournament team, third-seeded Chugiak, lost a tight battle with Palmer 24-26, 25-14, 25-23, 25-15. In the only match not involving an Anchorage team, West Valley outlasted Kodiak 25-23, 27-25, 20-25, 25-18.

Though South hasn't lost a set to an Alaska team this season while racking a 23-0 record, the Wolverines used a pre-match meeting to discuss how they might feel if they failed to win a state championship.

"They would hate it," South coach Judy Knecht said. "But they decided they wouldn't let it ruin the season."

Judging by the way they started against Wasilla, a ruined season looked like a dim possibility for the Wolverines, who scored the match's first seven points en route to a 14-2 lead over the Warriors.

"The first (set) we might have been a little intimidated," said Wasilla senior Jolee Fife. "Just it being South, that was in our mind."

Wasilla bounced back and played tougher in the second and third sets, but didn't have enough to avoid being eliminated from title contention by South for the second straight season.

South's Sarah Johnson said the Wolverines may have been a little too over confident in the second set, but settled down and got back to business in a hurry.

"We didn't want to get too ahead of ourselves," she said. "Just stay consistent and keep a positive attitude on the court."

The 6-foot-1 Johnson led the Wolverines with 11 kills and was named player of the match. Shelby Stoner, another 6-1 senior, patrolled the net with Johnson and chipped in nine kills. Mikayla Sweet added six kills and Lindsey Logan led the defense with 15 digs.

Haley Taylor led Wasilla with 10 kills and 13 digs and Sariah Tuisaula produced eight kills to go with 16 digs.

Like South, Dimond began its first-round match in dominant fashion, cruising to a 13-3 lead in the first set against Juneau-Douglas and quickly expanding it to 20-5.

Dimond coach Kim Lauwers said she was pleased with how focused and prepared the Lynx were early, because the first match of the tournament is always the toughest.

"We came out on a mission," she said. "Lewis really sparked us and Abbey Pacolt really sparked us at the net."

Lewis, a 5-2 junior libero, hustled all over the court on her way to a team-high 22 digs. Most of her team-high 29 serves were on target, twice helping her team to critical third-set rallies. When Wasilla took a 5-1 lead in the final set, Lewis served seven straight points to power Dimond to an 8-5 lead. Later, Dimond led 17-16 when Lewis took over on the service line and remained there for a five-point run that helped put the Crimson Bears away.

Lewis, who was named player of the match, said she felt positive energy throughout the match.

"It's the first game and we are just kind of getting in the mojo of things," she said.

Crimson Bears coach Sandi Wagner was encouraged by her team's improved play over the last two sets and is looking forward to her group of young players getting more state tournament experience in the consolation bracket.

"Our team is very, very inexperienced," she said. "I only have one player who played varsity before."

In Thursday's final match, Palmer team captain Jenna Arlow rallied the Moose to a four-set win over Chugiak.

"She's a great setter," Palmer coach Steve Reynolds said. "She set the tone."

Palmer dropped a close first set but took a 12-0 lead to start the second set and controlled most of the match from there. The top seed from the the Northern Lights Conference, the Moose advance to play South today.

Arlow led the Moose with 32 assists and Lily Cullers supported the defense with 10 digs. Kalene Smith was Palmer's top offensive player, hitting for 10 kills.

Chugiak's top performers were Kathleen Gill with 20 assists, Kara Haeussler with 28 digs and Anna Matthews with eight kills and two blocks.

3A STATE BRACKET

WASILLA -- After being stunned in the first set Thursday, defending state volleyball champion Grace Christian turned its game around and picked up a four-set win over Barrow in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament at the Menard Sports Complex.

The Grizzlies rallied for a 20-25, 28-26, 25-10, 25-21 win to advance to a semifinal match today against Valdez, the survivor of an epic match with Petersburg 25-21, 21-25, 25-13, 21-25, 16-14.

While the bottom half of the bracket produced tense matches for Grace and Valdez, the top half featured sweeps for Dillingham and Mt. Edgecumbe.

Dillingham downed Seward 25-23, 25-14, 25-22 and Mt. Edgecumbe cruised past Eielson 25-14, 25-15, 25-12 in the afternoon matches, leaving all the drama for the night session.

"I don't think Grace thought we would come out this strong," Barrow coach Seeseei Pili said. "We kind of found a click here."

After winning the first set, the Whalers kept the heat on the Grizzlies in the second set, reaching set point with a 26-25 lead. But Grace scored the next three points, with two of them coming on kills by Nicole Weisenfelder, to take the set and even the match.

"That second game was just heart-pounding," said player-of-the-match Heather Green. "After the second game it got calm."

Green led the Grizzlies with 13 kills and her six aces were part of a deadly serving game led by Hannah Karlberg's seven aces. Brooke Leadbetter racked eight kills, as did Weisenfelder, who also led the Grizzlies with 26 assists.

"Nicole, my setter, was amazing," Green said. "I give her all the credit."

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Reach Jeremy Peters at jpeters@adn.com or 257-4335.

ASAA/First National Bank Volleyball Championships

Menard Sports Complex in Wasilla

Thursday's results

Class 4A

Dimond def. Juneau-Douglas 25-12, 25-14, 25-22

South def. Wasilla 25-6, 25-20, 25-18

West Valley def. Kodiak 25-23, 27-25, 20-25, 25-18

Palmer def. Chugiak 24-26, 25-14, 25-23, 25-15

Class 3A

Dillingham def. Seward 25-23, 25-14, 25-22

Mt. Edgecumbe def. Eielson 25-14, 25-15, 25-12

Valdez def. Petersburg 25-21, 21-25, 25-13, 21-25, 16-14

Grace Christian vs. Barrow, late