Anchorage Daily News

Connie Weisenfelder moved to Alaska only a year ago, but even she grasped the magnitude of Grace Christian's emotional five-set victory over Cordova in Friday's Class 3A state tournament semifinal.

"They're the reigning champs," Grace's first-year coach said. "They're a solid team."

So solid that six of Cordova's seniors hadn't lost a postseason match since the seventh grade. The Wolverines came into the semifinal match at West High as the three-time defending state champions seeking a spot in history.

But Grace Christian denied the Wolverines' dream of a seventh-straight appearance in the title match and a chance to become just the third team in Alaska history to four-peat. The Grizzlies stormed back from a 2-1 deficit after three sets and won the fifth set 15-11 before an electrified crowd.

The Grizzlies rushed the court to celebrate with hugs and tears.

"This feels amazing," Grace senior Hannah Johnson said. "There was so much pressure on us."

The pressure was on Cordova too -- the team everyone expects to win, and everyone wants to beat.

"A lot of people kind of had us penciled in (to the championship match)," Cordova coach John Harding said. "We knew that it was going to be a tough match. I think Grace played great tonight."

The Grizzlies are headed to the state championship match for the first time in nine seasons to face ACS, which swept Valdez to reach the championship match for the first time ever.

Grace won the 1999 state championship against Seward. Since then only three schools have captured the Class 3A state trophy: Nikiski (2000), Valdez (2001-04) and Cordova (2005-07).

Johnson wouldn't mind putting another school on the list. The Grizzlies, she said, need to play the championship match with the same cohesiveness they displayed against Cordova.

"It was all teamwork," Johnson said. "Not just one person."

When Weisenfelder took over as coach, the Grizzlies had chemistry issues to solve. The team was divided into cliques, she said, so she spent time helping the player hone social skills as well as volleyball skills. The goal was to mold the players into a single unit.

"We've been working hard to change our culture," Weisenfelder said. In the match against Cordova, she said, "I think they proved it has changed."

Witness the fourth set when Cordova led 19-17 but Grace rallied with a 9-5 run to win 26-24, fending off match point along the way. They charged back by pursuing balls that required they leave behind some skin on the court.

There were moments this season when even Weisenfelder had her doubts Grace could display such an effort. Installing team chemistry and will to win wasn't like changing a light bulb. The job took patience.

"I wasn't sure if they'd buy into it," she said. "It was all pretty intense."

Their reward is a spot in tonight's title match. Win or lose, Weisenfelder said she will be proud of the way her players turned their attitude around to become a championship caliber squad.

"It's not about one person -- no blame," she said. "That's what the win was all about. And now it's part of who they are."

ACS 3, Valdez 0

The Anchorage Christian School Lions want to hang a new decoration in their gymnasium and they need one more victory to do it.

"We've never had a banner," coach Crystal Dyson said.

They've never even played for one. But today the Lions get a chance to earn a state championship volleyball banner, thanks to a 25-18, 25-16, 25-23 semifinal sweep of previously undefeated Valdez.

The win puts ACS in its first Class 3A title match, where the Lions will play crosstown rival Grace Christian.

ACS is 15-4 this season, and two of those losses are to Grace. Grace beat ACS twice during the regular season, but ACS defeated Grace in the conference tournament.

"They're going to be out for us," Dyson said.

Hard-hitting senior Anna Simmers and sister Debbiey Simmers, a junior, each had 12 kills against Valdez, and Anna's powerful punch gave ACS an intimidation factor.

"She hits hard," Valdez coach Rhonda Wegner said. "Our girls had never been on the big floor before, so we were intimidated."

Simmers' spikes are sometimes so powerful even her sister needs a tracking device for the ball.

"Sometimes I can't see it," Debbiey said.

Simmers' athleticism and enthusiasm to succeed is something special, Dyson said.

"It's intense every time she goes to the net," Dyson said. "Everything comes from the heart."

As for Valdez (14-1), Kelsey Lematta led the Buccaneers with six kills and four blocks, while Alex Wegner finished with five kills and nine digs.

Considering Alex Wegner is a senior, Rhonda Wegner -- a mom/coach -- is calling it a career after 20 seasons.

"This is my last season," Rhonda said. "It's bittersweet."

Find Kevin Klott online at adn.com/contact/kklott or call 257-4335.

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