For the second straight year, top-seeded Dimond knocked off second-seeded South in the if-necessary game to capture the Cook Inlet Conference volleyball championship Saturday at Service High.
The tireless Lynx rebounded from a Friday loss to the Wolverines to battle back through the loser's bracket Saturday afternoon and beat South in the title match, 25-17, 25-23, 16-25, 25-11. That forced an if-necessary set, which Dimond dominated 30-20.
"We worked so hard, we deserved it," Dimond setter Teuila Lolotai said. "People really doubted us but we came out strong and it's such a good feeling."
Dimond and South have combined for every CIC title since 2010, and they were the two teams expected to battle in the title match.
But the third-place showing by Bartlett, the No. 6 seed, came as a surprise. The Golden Bears defeated third-seeded East — last season's state runnerup — in Saturday's first match to clinch their first state tournament berth since 2003.
"It brings a lot of pride back to our girls," Bartlett coach Situfu Misi said. "It kind of rewards them, in a sense, for all their hard work that they've been pushing through from the beginning of the season until now."
South entered Saturday's championship match with more rest and momentum after sweeping Dimond in three close sets Friday, 29-27, 27-25, 25-23.
Dimond ended Bartlett's tournament run with a three-set win in Saturday's second match to earn another shot at the Wolverines.
"I think anytime you get a battle between South and Dimond, it's gonna be a battle both ways," Dimond coach Kim Lauwers said. "We just tried to stay a little more consistent, tried to make a little fewer unforced errors than we did last night.
"They're two unbelievable teams."
Dimond took control early, building an eight-point lead midway through the first set and coasted to the first-set victory.
"That just led us to where we wanted to be," Lolotai said.
In the second set, Dimond had to play catch-up. South picked up a 12-5 lead behind solid serving from middle blocker Ashton Jessee.
Dimond stayed patient and slowly chipped away at South's lead to tie the set at 18-18 and again at 21-21. The Lynx benefitted from a couple of South mistakes late and won the set a on a hitting error by the Wolverines.
The third set was South's best. The Wolverines went on a 10-0 run midway through to go up 20-12. A couple of points later, South closed the set with back-to-back kills by Emilye Grace Williams.
South's momentum carried into the fourth set, where they went up 4-0, but Dimond wasn't done.
The Lynx took their first lead of the set on a kill from middle blocker Brynn Sulte at 11-10, and South only mustered one more point for the rest of the set. Dimond cruised into the if-necessary set on a 17-1 run.
"The only way we could win was if we won that first match," Lauwers said. "We were just thinking about what was ahead of us."
The Lynx never trailed in the extra set. As Dimond got closer to match point, the roaring from the Lynx fans grew louder.
Finally, Dimond's Mia Ekstrand ended it with back-to-back kills from the left side.
Lauwers said one difference between Friday's loss and Saturday's win over South was getting more players involved and not going with just one or two hitters.
Sulte led Dimond with 18 kills and nine blocks, outside hitter Alissa Pili supplied 17 kills and 18 digs and Ekstrand racked up 13 kills.
Most of the passing came from Lolotai (37 assists, 16 digs) and Hahni Johnson (20 assists, 21 digs).
"We're just really excited to see what we can do in state," Sulte said. "I honestly don't know what we would do without our setters, without everyone working together and stepping up."
South was boosted by Williams (11 kills) and middle blocker Savannah Davis (10 kills, 3 blocks). Emma Kleven added 40 assists and Sarina Mancari tallied 24 digs.
South coach Amy Mestas said the Wolverines won't dwell on the loss. Instead, they'll try for redemption at the state tournament.
"There were no tears on our side of the bench," she said. "(We're) ready to get out there and fight back."
Cook Inlet Conference volleyball tournament
Saturday's results
Championship – Dimond def. South, 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 16-25, 25-11)
If-necessary set — Dimond def. South, 30-20.
Loser out – Dimond def. Bartlett, 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-21)
Loser out — Bartlett def. East, 3-0 (13-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-7)