Anchorage Daily News

For Pete Katongan, a ticket to the Mixed-Six state volleyball tournament means more than competing for a championship.

It means a trip to the big city.

The Unalakleet junior gets three chances a year to make the 112-hour plane ride to Anchorage -- for volleyball, basketball and cross country state championships. If he or his team doesn't qualify, he stays home.

So far, he's 1 for 2 this school year.

Katongan didn't make it to Anchorage for the cross country championships, but he's here this week thanks to volleyball.

After going 17-3 this season and earning second place in the Western Interior Conference, Unalakleet's coed volleyball team made its way to Dimond High and on Thursday upset defending state champion Russian Mission 25-16, 25-21, 25-20.

Katongan stole the spotlight with his unique, side-stepping jump-serve that earned the Wolfpack 11 aces.

Of course, just about everything in Mixed-Six volleyball is unique, at least when viewed from the perspective of traditional volleyball.

For each play, at least one of the three girls on the court must come in contact with the ball. Ideally, either a girl or boy passes to a female setter, who sets to a front-row boy to make the attack.

"I've got a couple girls that hit, but they're kind of flat-footed," said Unalakleet coach Willa Eckenweiler. "So it's mostly girls setting and guys hitting."

Which makes sense, especially since the net is 7 feet, 1158 inches -- about 7 inches taller than a standard girls' net.

The higher net seemingly gives the boys an advantage over the usually shorter girls, but Unalakleet junior Preston Bradley said he has faith the girls on the team will perform as efficiently and effectively as the boys.

"Everyone has a role in state. Our girls are just as important as this guy," Bradley said, elbowing Katongan, who led the offense with eight kills.

Among the fans in the bleachers was 88-year-old Guerie Towarak, Eckenweiler's mother, who aims to come to every state tournament that features Unalakleet, a school with about 50 students.

"She's a real sports fan," said Eckenweiler. "And she's got about 50 grandchildren."

On Thursday, she happened to be cheering for granddaughter Kira Eckenweiler, who helped Unalakleet get past the Raiders with her strong serving.

But the good times for the Wolfpack began hours before the team earned a spot in today's semifinals.

"They came ready to shop and do all the big city entertainment," said Willa Eckenweiler, who took the team to both the Dimond Center and 5th Avenue mall. "Even the guys like to shop."

And eat.

Considering there is only one restaurant in Unalakleet, it's not surprising that the boys were raving about their pre-match dinner at Red Robin.

"It's awesome, because there's only Peace on Earth pizza in Unalakleet," said Katongan.

After the match, some of the boys conspired to convince their coach to take them to the Golden Corral.

Mixed-Six State Tournament

Quarterfinal results

Unalakleet d. Russian Mission 25-16, 25-21, 25-20

Point Hope d. Akiuk 25-16, 25-23, 25-16

Golovin d. Mountain Village 25-16, 25-20, 25-16

Newhalen d. Noorvik 25-20, 13-25, 17-25, 25-18, 15-9

1-2-3A West State Tournament

Quarterfinal results

Barrow d. Skagway 25-20, 25-12, 25-13

Dillingham d. Seldovia 25-20, 25-16, 25-16

Klawock d. Kenny Lake 25-17, 25-18, 25-19

Tok d. Kotzebue 25-20, 25-18, 19-25, 25-20

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