Barrow gets the crowd but Valdez gets the crown in 3A volleyball

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Valdez celebrates it victory in straight sets over Barrow to win the 3A State Volleyball Championship at West High in Anchorage, Alaska on Saturday, Nov.1, 2017. (Bob Hallinen / Alaska Dispatch News)

As deafening cheers for Barrow rang off the walls of the West High gymnasium throughout Saturday's Class 3A state volleyball championship match, the Valdez Buccaneers just looked at each other and smiled.

The Buccaneers used the pro-Barrow crowd as motivation to sweep the Whalers 25-16, 25-21, 25-13 and claim their second state title in three years.

"That definitely helped us a lot I think," Valdez middle blocker Sydnee Johnson said of the crowd. "Everyone cheering against us got us going."

Johnson and fellow middle blocker Bobbi Mott powered the Buccaneers with big kills and clutch blocks all match long.

Johnson, a 6-foot junior, recorded 14 kills and 20 blocks, and Mott, a 6-0 senior, registered 14 kills and 10 blocks.

"I think definitely our blocks and passes really played a major role and everything really came together today," Johnson said.

Barrow led 13-10 in the first set before a kill by Valdez's Ally Seiber and a block by Johnson started a 15-3 Valdez run to end the set.

The second set was the closest with four lead changes and five ties, but the Buccaneers took control late and ended the set on back-to-back kills by Mott.

Valdez carried its momentum into a dominant third set capped by a Johnson kill for match point.

"I'm super happy for them," said Valdez coach Ron Langseth, who said his team owns a 32-game winning streak in Aurora Conference matches dating back to its 2015 state championship season. "They don't seem to get too rattled despite what may or may not be happening in the game. They're a pretty fun (team) to coach."

Unlike Valdez, which was 4-0 in the eight-team, double-elimination tournament, Barrow had to fight through the loser's bracket to make it to the championship.

The Whalers lost to Mt. Edgecumbe on Thursday's opening day of play, won three elimination matches on Friday and another Saturday morning, a five-set victory over third-place Grace Christian.

The Whalers were led by senior middle blocker Milya Wright, who recorded 16 kills.

Langseth said Valdez and Barrow split a pair of matches during the regular season.

"They're a great team, well-coached," Langseth said. "We've gone back and forth with them over the years. I'm happy they got the cheers they did."

Class 3A/First National Bank state volleyball tournament

All-tournament team

Cassidy Kramer, Kotzebue
Anna Christiansen, Grace Christian
Sydnee Johnson, Valdez
Haylee Steffes, Mt. Edgecumbe
Crystalynn Tula'i, Barrow
Allison Hagen, Grace Christian
Miah Dumag, Sitka
Caitlin Conwell, Kotzebue
Linnea Langseth, Valdez
Kuutuuq Danner, Barrow
Milya Wright, Barrow
Bobbi Mott, Valdez

Saturday's results

Barrow def. Grace Christian 25-18, 22-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-12 (loser out)
Valdez def. Barrow 25-18, 25-11, 15-25, 25-14 (championship)