Girls on Wrangell's 2017-18 high school volleyball team have a victory lap around Wrangell Monday afternoon, after returning from the State Championships in Anchorage in second-place. The team swept their way through the bracket to the final round, which necessitated an additional tie-breaker with Petersburg. The team's appearance at State was a first in over a decade, and Wrangell's best-ever showing in volleyball.
With a stellar conclusion to its 2017 season, the Wrangell High School volleyball team finished second at the State 2A Championships on Saturday.
The team headed up early last Tuesday, practicing the next morning at Dimond High School. It was a crowded tournament, between the 2A and the mix-six. Teams were practicing two at a time on court throughout the day.
Beginning play November 30 against King Cove, the Lady Wolves had already been preparing for their first meet. Whitaker said her girls had studied videos of their opponents' play, helping to make up for their unfamiliarity.
When they went into the game they went in swinging. Wrangell won the first match handily with a 25-12 finish. King Cove won the next, also at 25-12. The last two matches kept close, with Wrangell coming ahead in both 25-22 and 25-21.
"The girls were really focused," Whitaker said. The serving had been there, she explained, and team captain Helen Decker had been on point with her blocking. As a result, she had been named the player of the game.
Later the same day, Wrangell went up against the girls from Su-Valley. The going was tough; after losing the first match 21-25, Wrangell was able to wrangle a win in the second after going into extra time, 27-25. Su-Valley won the next 25-15, but the Lady Wolves bounced back with a 25-22 win. In the to-15 final, Wrangell stepped away with the victory over their opponent's eight points.
"It came down to it, but they were able to persevere," Whitaker said of her team.
Late in the fourth match Decker rolled her ankle. Sophomore Kaylyn Easterly subbed in as the team's middle hitter, and ended up making player of the game.
After a long first day, the team remained in its first state tournament intact and in the upper bracket. "If we won those two games it would make our lives significantly easier," Whitaker explained.
Their schedule was lightened for Friday, but the team had to square off against their region leaders Petersburg. A tough team to beat, the Lady Vikings had to that point gone undefeated in their regular season. Fortunately, Wrangell was familiar with their neighboring community's team, matching up with them at several points through the season.
"We've talked about it all season long," said their coach.
Meeting Friday evening, Wrangell won its opening match 25-16. Petersburg parried with a 25-16 win the next, but Wrangell returned with a 25-22 win after a tough match. Whitaker noted her team had been on point, and in the game libero Krissy Lockabey had been "picking up almost everything from the floor."
The fourth round kept fans at the edge of their seats as it crept into extra time. Wrangell edged out a win over its rivals 29 points to 27, securing its spot in the finals. It was the furthest along the team had gotten in ASAA history, the next closest being in 1999 with a fourth place finish.
"It was amazing to get that far in the tournament," Whitaker said.
After their third game, junior Ashley Allen was named player of the game. A first-year setter, Whitaker said "she's just grown tremendously throughout the season."
The next day would be for the title, and Petersburg was not in the consolation bracket for long. Winning three matches over King Cove during the early afternoon, the Lady Vikings were back up against Wrangell for the final game.
Petersburg was able to rebound from a key injury of its own, and after a close 25-20 opening win over Wrangell was able to wrap up the finals in three. After an 8-25 loss in the second match, Wrangell pressed hard for a win in the third but came up short with 23 points. Easterly again was named player of the game.
Because they had each won one over the other, the two teams competed in an extra game to 30 points.
"They just dominated us," said Whitaker, with the Lady Wolves up against some tough blocking. Petersburg finished with a 30-15 win, securing first for 2A.
Coming up in second, Whitaker said her team was proud of its accomplishment.
"We have a really tough region," she explained. Throughout the season Wrangell had seeded third behind Petersburg and Craig, but its girls kept at it and had come a long way. It was the team's first appearance at State since 2005, and with half its 12 players set to graduate this year, Whitaker thought this year's appearance – and a new banner for the gym at home – made for a fitting sendoff.
"We're very proud of them," she said. "They all did just very well."
There were plenty of awards to go around after the tournament. Kayla Hay, Lockabey and Easterly were all named to the All-Tournament Team, while Anna Allen and Erin Galla were awarded for their good sportsmanship.
Returning to Wrangell, the team is not quite finished for the year. Its annual alumni game is scheduled for December 16 at 7 p.m., and the public is invited to attend.
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