Dimond wins 3rd straight state volleyball championship

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The Dimond Lynx celebrate their win over the Bartlett Golden Bears in the 4A State Volleyball Championship game at West High in Anchorage, Alaska on Saturday, Nov.1, 2017. The

After Dimond's Summer Zelinsky rocketed a kill off a Bartlett defender for match point, the Lynx formed a dogpile at center court in celebration of their third straight Class 4A state volleyball championship.

It was a familiar sight for the Dimond fans who packed the West High gym on Saturday and watched their Lynx win a thrilling five-set match against Bartlett, 25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 21-25, 15-4.

"It's awesome because our league was so tough, the state was so tough," Dimond coach Kim Lauwers said. "Those battles that you really have to work for, they just mean a lot."

Dimond flew out to a two-set lead against the Golden Bears, the Cook Inlet Conference champions who were seeking their first state title since 1976.

The Lynx never trailed in the first set and they ended the second set on a 5-0 run behind solid serving from senior libero Maya Carle and two big kills from junior outside hitter Mia Ekstrand, including the set point.

But Bartlett didn't go down without a fight.

In the third set, the Golden Bears survived a back-and-forth match that featured seven ties and no lead greater than three points.

[Related: Barrow gets the crowd but Valdez gets the crown in 3A volleyball]

Bartlett's Liu Pa'ia Togaga'e recorded her team's final three points in the set and the Golden Bears carried their momentum into the fourth set to grab a quick 5-1 lead.

Dimond fought back and cut Bartlett's lead to 19-17 on an Ekstrand kill, but the Golden Bears scored the next three points and eventually took the set on another Togaga'e strike.

"We're known for fighting," Togaga'e said.

In the fifth set, Dimond turned to its clutch server, Carle, who helped the Lynx score the first five points. The Golden Bears couldn't set up their attackers, which resulted in easy digs for the Lynx.

"The third and fourth sets didn't work out, but in that fifth one we were like, 'We're 15 points away from a state title,' " Carle said. "Bartlett had good momentum going, and we had to get that momentum back, get those first five points."

Carle finished with six aces and 44 digs for the champions. Three Lynx registered double-doubles with junior outside hitter Alissa Pili tallying 22 kills and 26 digs, sophomore setter Hahni Johnson recording 30 assists and 22 digs and junior setter Jalyjn Osborne delivering 20 assists and 10 digs.

Ekstrand added 13 kills.

Bartlett was carried by Liu Pa'ia Togaga'e (19 kills, 16 digs), Leanna Atafua (38 assists, 9 digs) and Violett Togaga'e (11 kills, 28 digs).

The championship is Dimond's seventh in the last 10 years.

Lauwers said the Lynx entered state with a chip on their shoulder after failing to win the Cook Inlet Conference title this season despite entering the tournament as the No. 1 seed.

"I think that was definitely in the bottom of our bellies," she said. "Our conference is tough, we knew it was going to be tough.

"Bartlett was amazing and we knew they would be amazing. I'm just glad we could persevere."

ASAA/First National Bank Class 4A state volleyball tournament

All-tournament team

Alissa Pili, Dimond
Cassie Dzinich, Juneau
Daisy Page, East
Ellen Silva, West Valley
Eva Heinrichs, West Valley
Eve Stephens, Colony
Hahni Johnson, Dimond
Leeanna Atafua, Bartlett
Liu Pa'ia Togaga'e, Bartlett
Maya Carle, Dimond
Nyanuer Bidit, East
Shay Zener, Soldotna

Saturday's results

Bartlett def. East 25-21, 25-22, 25-18 (loser out)
Dimond def. Bartlett 25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 21-25, 15-4 (championship)