South rallied from a first-set loss and a big fourth-set deficit Thursday to claim a dramatic victory over East at the Cook Inlet Conference volleyball tournament.
The Wolverines won the winner's-bracket duel 20-25, 25-19, 25-18, 28-26. They will face Dimond in a high-stakes Friday match – the winner will move directly into Saturday's championship match.
East drops into the loser's bracket and will play an elimination match Friday against West. Another elimination match will pit Chugiak against Bartlett, which ousted Service in three sets Thursday, 25-17, 25-19, 25-16.
Emma Klevin led South with 41 assists and five kills, including an attack that provided the Wolverines with match point.
Klevin's steady serving rescued South after East jumped to an 8-2 lead in the fourth set. She served 14 straight points to help South build a 16-8 lead, but East made a run of its own to turn the final set into a squeaker.
"It was a battle to the end," South coach Amy Mestas said by email.
The match featured the return of middle blocker Ashton Jessee, who was injured in South's first CIC match of the season. She provided seven blocks and six kills.
Emilye Grace Williams added 12 kills and eight blocks, Savanna Davis had 13 kills and Amber Esplin totaled eight kills and 14 digs for South. Sarina Mancari's 28 digs and Kate Duclos' 20 digs led South's defense.
"One of our core values as a program is family, and we really embraced that tonight," Mestas said.
Leading East were Daisy Page and Celia Sheppard, who both racked up double-doubles – Page had 12 kills and 17 digs and Sheppard had 36 assists and 10 digs.
The T-birds also got a boost from Nyanuer Bidit (9 blocks), Kyla Liufau (8 kills, 8 digs, 3 aces) and Leona Tau'ese (23 digs).
In Thursday's other match, Bartlett stayed alive by beating Service.
Pa'ia Togaga'e paced the Golden Bears with nine kills, five digs and three aces.
Leeanna Atafua orchestrated the Bartlett offense with 31 assists and Kendra Camell (6 kills, 4 blocks) was touch at the net.
Service seniors Erin Davis and Sophie Landies wrapped up their high school careers with six kills and 12 digs, respectively.
Davis added three blocks for the Cougars, who got seven kills from Autumn Monkelien and 21 assists, four kills and two aces from Julia Ferko.
Cook Inlet Conference volleyball tournament
Thursday's results
Winner's bracket — South def. East, 3-1 (20-25, 25-19, 25-18, 28-26)
Loser's bracket – Bartlett def. Service, 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-16)
Friday's matches
3:30 p.m. – Bartlett vs. Chugiak (loser out)
5:30 p.m. – East vs. West (loser out)
7:30 p.m. – Dimond vs. South (winner's bracket)