Wolverines show resiliency in return to Class 4A volleyball supremacy

Things looked grim for the South Wolverines early in Saturday night’s championship match at the Class 4A state volleyball tournament.

They were blown out in the first set by a Bartlett team that was still riding the momentum of a big victory earlier in the day against powerhouse Dimond, the four-time defending state champion.

Not to worry. The Wolverines weren’t done yet.

Led by libero Kylie Hurd’s 30 digs, South came back to beat Bartlett in four sets and claim its first state championship since 2014.

Camryn Houser slammed 13 kills and Sarina Gribbin had 10 to help the Wolverines prevail 14-25, 25-19, 25-21, 26-24 at the Alaska Airlines Center. The title is their seventh since 2005.

Bartlett, which started the day with a sweep of the Dimond Lynx, raced to a 20-5 lead in the first set in pursuit of its first state title in 1976. But South didn’t panic.

“One of the core covenants at South is resilience,” coach Amy Mestas said. “We had a good team-bonding event after regions, after losing the region title, and they all believed that they could come and do this after that loss.”

Hurd, whose backrow play earned her player-of-the-game honors, said the first-set loss was a bit unsettling.

“It had me a little bit scared,” she said, “but we picked it up and worked as a team and worked through it together.”

The championship continues an impressive run for South High, which so far this school year has won championships in football, flag football, cross country, gymnastics and volleyball.

The volleyball title came with a bit of revenge. At last week’s Cook Inlet Conference tournament, South entered as the top seed but dropped a four-set decision to Dimond in the championship match.

In Friday’s winners-bracket match between South and Dimond, South retaliated by sweeping the Lynx.

“That was a pretty good deal for us,” Hurd said. “And then we came out today and we were into it and ready to win.”

Josh Reed contributed to this report.

ASAA/First National Bank state volleyball tournament

Alaska Airlines Center

Class 4A

Saturday’s results

Bartlett def. Dimond 3-2 (25-18, 25-20, 16-25, 15-25, 15-13)

South def. Bartlett 3-1 (14-25, 25-19, 25-21, 26-24)

Friday’s results

Winners bracket

South def. Dimond 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-20)

Losers bracket

Palmer def. Juneau-Douglas 3-1 (20-25, 25-17, 25-11, 25-17) (loser out)

Soldotna def. North Pole 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-21) (loser out)

Wasilla def. Palmer 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-21) (loser out)

Bartlett def. Soldotna 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-17 (loser out)

Bartlett def. Wasilla 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-18) (loser out)

All-tournament team

Leeanna Atafua, Bartlett

Hahni Johnson, Dimond

Laralynna Atafua, Bartlett

Makenna Besch, South

Ainsley Smith North Pole

Jada Schultz, wasuilla

Kristen Beames, Palmer

Josephine Schachle, Wasilla

Sarina Gribbin, South

Kylie Hurt, South

Ituau Tuisaula, Soldotna