Addy Andrews (center) celebrates with Alexis Easterly (left), Christina Johnson (right) and Aubrey Wynne (far right) at the state volleyball tournament in Palmer on Dec. 5.
Libero Kayla Young strikes the ball while teammates Addy Andrews (left) and Aubrey Wynne (right) watch in Wrangell's second-round match on Dec. 5. The Southeast champions came up short of their state hopes after falling to Susitna Valley at the state tournament in Palmer.
The Southeast champions' season came to a close at the hands of Susitna Valley on Dec. 6 at the state tournament.
The double elimination, three-day tournament was held in Palmer. After plowing their way through Southeast competition the weekend prior, Wrangell had high hopes going into state. However, due to some injuries, illnesses and struggles to close out games, the Wolves were forced to settle for fourth place at the tournament.
"Fourth at state is nothing to hang our heads about," head coach Brian Herman said, "but it's still a little disheartening."
The Dec. 5-7 tournament started positively for the Wolves, beating Koliganek three sets to nil in the opening round. Wrangell took the first set 25-12 before a 25-17 victory in the second. All state tournament matches are best-of-five, and while the third set was closer, Wrangell prevailed 25-19.
In the second round, the Wolves were matched against Unalaska. The Raiders were a force from the get-go, winning the first two sets handedly. Despite a 25-23 Wrangell win in the third, Unalaska finished off the Wolves 26-24 in a tight final set that saw the Wolves blow a 24-12 lead.
However, the double elimination structure of the tournament meant Herman's team still had a lifeline to the championship: It was just going to be a lot more difficult.
In their first match in the losers bracket, Wrangell beat Glennallen 3-0, with set scores of 25-12, 25-14 and 25-14. Their "flawless volleyball" (per Herman) ended Glennallen's season, and, for a brief moment, it seemed that the Wolves had regained the mojo of the team that won the Southeast title.
Sadly, those hopes were dashed by eventual runners-up Susitna Valley High School in Talkeetna. The Rams won a convincing first set 25-12 before going up 2-0 with a 25-19 win in the second set. Wrangell won the third 25-18 before dropping the fourth and final set by just two points. In that final set, Wrangell once again led their opposition, but were unable to close out a 23-16 lead that would have extended the match to a tiebreak fifth set.
The two teams that beat Wrangell - Unalaska and Susitna Valley - met each other in the Dec. 7 championship match. Unalaska dismissed the Rams in three sets to win the Division 2A volleyball state championship. The Wolves finished in fourth place.
While the loss ends the season on a sour note for Wrangell, it's paramount to remember the team's success in Southeast play. The Wolves lost just one regular season match all season, finished the year 13-1 in conference play and three-peated as Southeast champions.
The team is losing four seniors after this season: Clara Waddington, Addy Andrews, Aubrey Wynne and Kayla Young. The Wolves will likely need to more heavily rely on players like junior Christina Johnson and sophomore Sophia Martinsen if they want to make it four in a row next season.
"We may not have quite the firepower from this year," Herman said, "but we might have a more well-rounded team."
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