Juneau-Douglas’ Addie Prussing, left, attempts to block Petersburg’s Ines Larson at JDHS on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Addie Prussing, left, attempts to block Petersburg’s Ines Larson at JDHS on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears sink Vikings

JDHS volleyball remains unbeaten at home

One team was just beginning its season, the other already more than 10 games in, but Friday night’s Juneau-Douglas-Petersburg volleyball matchup still managed to be a closely-contested affair.

JDHS won 3-0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-20) — the seventh time this season they’ve swept an opponent in such fashion — but Petersburg didn’t go down with out a fight. They covered the court well and made the Crimson Bears work to score. But JDHS passed better and senior Shaylin Cesar and sophomore JoJo Griggs steadied the offense in key moments.

“It was a really back-and-forth game,” Cesar said. “They put up some big blocks toward the end that caught us a little bit.”

Griggs made two acrobatic tips that resulted in points during a 7-1 run in the first set that erased a three-point deficit and put JDHS up 14-11. The surge came after a JDHS timeout with Petersburg in front 10-7.

“We just needed to reset,” JDHS coach Brandee Gerke said. “We weren’t resembling anything that we practice or that we do. We just needed to bring it together, have a reset, take a breath.”

Petersburg, a 2A school whose season begins a month later than 4A schools like JDHS, returned just four players from last year’s 21-4 state championship team. Petersburg head coach Jaime Cabral thought his new-look varsity played well, just not well enough to win.

“They’ve only been practicing together for about 10 days total after we split up and got the teams together,” Cabral said. “So very happy to where they’re at right now. A lot of potential.”

Sophomore Kiana Potter’s two aces late in the second set broke a 17-17 tie. After JDHS couldn’t convert on four straight game points, Potter set up Griggs for a powerful kill to the middle of the court to put JDHS up 25-24 before a Cesar ace won the game.

“Her setting has progressed so much this season,” Gerke said of Potter.

After taking four of its five contests last weekend, JDHS is 8-2 in best-of-five-game matches this season. JDHS went 2-0 against Sitka, 1-1 against Mt. Edgecumbe and 1-0 against Barrow last Friday and Saturday. The Crimson Bears now get ready for Thunder Mountain, who is playing against Ketchikan this weekend. The two play at JDHS at 8 p.m. (6:15 p.m. JV) on Friday and at TMHS at 6 p.m. (6:15 p.m. JV) on Saturday.

“We’re really even and we’re excited to test our abilities against them,” Cesar said.


• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.


Juneau-Douglas’ JoJo Griggs, right, attempts a block against Petersburg’s Allie Davis at JDHS on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ JoJo Griggs, right, attempts a block against Petersburg’s Allie Davis at JDHS on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Riley Stadt bumps the ball up against Petersburg at JDHS on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Riley Stadt bumps the ball up against Petersburg at JDHS on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

More in Sports

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior JJ McCormick is honored during the Crimson Bears baseball senior night against Ketchikan Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Crimson Bears baseball team sweeps Kayhi

JDHS underclassmen step up to honor seniors.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Nick Iverson wins the boys’ 800-meter run with a time of 1:55.27 during the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Saturday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)
JDHS track record falls at Ketchikan meet

Iverson speeds to 800 mark, Connally chases 100.

In this file photo from last week’s home win against Soldotna the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé back defense of Ryan Thibodeau (12), keeper Callen Walker, Elliott Welch (35), Bryce Haygood (15), Reed Maier (19) heading the ball, Erik Thompson (24) and Owen Rumsey defend the box in a win over the Stars. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Crimson Bears soccer teams battle through Fairbanks

JDHS boys win two more, girls fall in two close matches.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé's Ida Meyer runs in the girls' 3,200 meter, finishing third during the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Friday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)
Kestel, Leuahli win opening track events at Kayhi

First day of Ketchikan Invitational Track meet ends.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Noah Lewis slides safely into home plate as Ketchikan pitcher Owen Mendoza attempts a tag during the Crimson Bears’ 17-7 win over the Kings on Friday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. The ball was jarred loose on the play. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Crimson Bears baseball team swats Kings

JDHS wins first game of three-game home stand.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé seniors, from left, Jacob Katasse, Christian Nelson and JJ McCormick will be honored Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park after the Crimson Bears 4 p.m. game against Ketchikan and before their 7 p.m. game with the Kings. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS baseball team to honor senior players Saturday

Crimson Bears seniors are Jacob Katasse, JJ McCormick and Christian Nelson

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junor Peyton Wheeler (5) shown in this file photo scoring last week against Soldotna, scored two goals Thursday in the Crimson Bears 2-1 win over Lathrop at Fairbanks. JDHS plays at Lathrop again Friday and at West Valley Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
JDHS soccer teams challenge Lathrop in Fairbanks

Crimson Bears topple Malemutes; girls win 2-1, boys 7-0.

Sitka junior Caleb Calhoun pitched a perfect game, striking out all 15 batters he faced in a 24-0, five-inning Sitka win over Kayhi at Norman Walker Field on Saturday. (Photo by Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
Sitka pitcher Caleb Calhoun throws perfect outing

Wolves ace one part of team’s march toward state title.

Most Read