Nikiski, Mt. Edgecumbe grab semifinal spots in 3A volleyball

Nikiski and Mt. Edgecumbe survived tough challenges Thursday to emerge as the only unbeaten teams at the Class 3A state volleyball tournament.

The Bulldogs and Braves each won a pair of matches to advance to a winner's bracket showdown Friday at the Alaska Airlines Center. Whoever wins the 3:15 p.m. match will grab a spot in Saturday's championship match.

Nikiski strolled past Monroe in three sets in Thursday's first round and then held off Barrow in five sets in a winner's bracket game.

Mt. Edgecumbe, the winner of three state titles in the last five years, faced the daunting task of taking down a pair of recent state champions.

In the opening round, the Braves knocked off Grace Christian – the state champion in 2014 and 2012 — in a five-set thriller that included a set that went all the way to 29 points.

That moved Mt. Edgecumbe into a winner's bracket match against defending champion Valdez. The Braves prevailed in four sets to stay in the winner's bracket.

Because of the double-elimination tournament format, title hopes remain alive for Grace Christian and Valdez. Either could battle back through the loser's bracket to earn a spot in the Saturday finale.

Grace Christian would have to win four straight matches – including three Friday — to get into the championship match. The Grizzlies begin their quest at 9:45 a.m. Friday when they face Kotzebue, a first-round loser to Valdez.

Valdez would need to win three straight matches to reach the title match. The Buccaneers return to the court at 11:30 a.m. Friday to play the winner of an 8 a.m. loser-out match between Seward and Monroe.

Saturday's championship match is scheduled for noon. If the winner is the team that came through the loser's bracket, the match will be immediately followed by an if-necessary game to 30 points to determine the state champion.

ASAA/First National Bank
Class 3A volleyball tournament
Thursday's results

First round
Barrow def. Seward, 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-20)
Nikiski def. Monroe, 3-0 (25-14, 25-11, 25-18)
Valdez def. Kotzebue, 3-1 (25-19, 25-17, 17-25, 25-22)
Mt. Edgecumbe def. Grace Christian, 3-2 (25-19, 27-29, 25-23, 21-25, 15-10)

Winner's bracket
Nikiski def. Barrow, 3-2 (25-15, 14-25, 25-18, 18-25, 15-8)
Mt. Edgecumbe def. Valdez, 3-1 (25-13, 25-21, 16-25, 25-18)

Friday's matches

Loser's bracket
8 a.m. – Seward vs. Monroe
9:45 a.m. – Grace vs. Kotzebue
11:30 a.m. – Valdez vs. Seward-Monroe winner
1:15 p.m. – Barrow vs. Grace-Kotzebue winner

Winner's bracket
3:15 p.m. – Nikiski vs. Mt. Edgecumbe