Thunder Mountain’s Kyra Jenkins Hayes leaps for a block of a shot by West Valley’s Sonia McGaffigan at the Dimond-Service Tournament at Dimond High School in Anchorage on Friday. Thunder Mountain won 25-22 and 25-21. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain’s Kyra Jenkins Hayes leaps for a block of a shot by West Valley’s Sonia McGaffigan at the Dimond-Service Tournament at Dimond High School in Anchorage on Friday. Thunder Mountain won 25-22 and 25-21. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

Falcons fifth overall at Dimond tourney

JDHS struggles in Bronze Bracket

Thunder Mountain had yet to play teams from the volleyball hotbed in Southcentral before this week. The Falcons had fared well against Southeast schools, and were ready to see how their best stacked up against the state’s best.

“My big thing is that I want to run a program that when we come up to Anchorage, the teams respect us,” TMHS coach Julie Herman said. “Not saying that we have to win, but I want our kids to earn that respect.”

The Falcons did a little of both — winning and soliciting respect — with their fifth-place showing at the Dimond Service Volleyball Tournament on Friday and Saturday in Anchorage.

The tournament starts out with pool play Friday. Thunder Mountain finished 5-3 in Pool A to take second and make it to Saturday’s Gold Bracket. In Friday pool play, the Falcons won 25-22, 25-17 over Homer, 25-22, 25-21 over West Valley, split 25-16 and 22-25 with East and lost 25-13, 25-7 to Dimond.

In the Gold Bracket on Saturday, Thunder Mountain lost to South 25-8, 25-20 before topping Wasilla 25-21, 16-25, 16-14 in consolation. The Falcons then lost to Bartlett 25-21, 25-21.

It is the program’s first-ever top-eight finish at the tournament, which starts out with 20 teams.

“I was just expecting to get a high seed in the Silver Bracket,” senior Kyra Jenkins Hayes said. “But then (with) how we played, we ended up in the Gold Bracket, which was a pretty big accomplishment.”

Juneau-Douglas didn’t fare quite as well, finishing last in Pool C with a 1-7 record. Friday, the Crimson Bears lost 25-19, 25-22 to Kenai, lost 25-16, 25-15 to Service, lost 25-17, 25-11 to South, and split 18-25 and 29-27 with Kodiak.

The Crimson Bears fell to Soldotna 25-23, 25-21 and Lathrop 25-23, 25-21 on Saturday to take second in the consolation portion of the Bronze Bracket. JDHS coach Brandee Gerke said inconsistent serving hurt the team, but the Crimson Bears didn’t let it sap their spirit.

“So even though we got into some slumps we were good about rebuilding our energy,” Gerke said.

TMHS and JDHS close out the regular season this weekend with two big conference matchups. The Falcons host the Crimson Bears on Friday night at 8 p.m. before playing at JDHS on Saturday night. The Region V Tournament is the following weekend at JDHS.


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


Thunder Mountain’s Tasi Fenumiai celebrates a point against West Valley on Friday during the Dimond-Service Tournament at Dimond High School in Anchorage on Friday. Thunder Mountain defeated West Valley 25-22 and 25-21. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain’s Tasi Fenumiai celebrates a point against West Valley on Friday during the Dimond-Service Tournament at Dimond High School in Anchorage on Friday. Thunder Mountain defeated West Valley 25-22 and 25-21. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

From left, Juneau-Douglas’ Gabi Griggs and Addie Prussing block a shot by Kenai’s Bethany Morris. The Crimson Bears lost to the Kardinals 25-19 and 25-22. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

From left, Juneau-Douglas’ Gabi Griggs and Addie Prussing block a shot by Kenai’s Bethany Morris. The Crimson Bears lost to the Kardinals 25-19 and 25-22. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

JDHS’ JoJo Griggs attempts to blast a return by Kenai’s Bethany Morris and Jenna Strieff. The Crimson Bears lost to the Kardinals 25-19 and 25-22. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

JDHS’ JoJo Griggs attempts to blast a return by Kenai’s Bethany Morris and Jenna Strieff. The Crimson Bears lost to the Kardinals 25-19 and 25-22. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

JDHS’ JoJo Griggs and Skylar Hickok combine for a return. The Crimson Bears lost to the Kardinals 25-19 and 25-22. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

JDHS’ JoJo Griggs and Skylar Hickok combine for a return. The Crimson Bears lost to the Kardinals 25-19 and 25-22. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

More in Sports

Western toads are terrestrial except during the spring mating season. (Photo by Deana Barajas)
On The Trails: Spring birds and toads

In late April, a male yellow-rumped warbler began coming regularly to my… Continue reading

In this file photo Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Bella Connally, Ketchikan senior Clara Odden and Sitka junior Adalyna Moore race to the finish of the 4x100 relay during the Capital City Invitational Track & Field Meet in Juneau on April 26. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
JDHS track team rises in the rain to challenge at Sitka

Crimson Bears compete with defending state champs Wolves.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team pose with their third-place trophy Saturday at the 2025 Blue & Gold Softball Tournament in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy JDHS softball)
Crimson Bears place third in Blue & Gold play

JDHS gets taste of possible state tournament matchups.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior first baseman Riley Fick (22) attempts to catch an errant throw as Petersburg senior Brian Peterson (7) runs out a hit during the Crimson Bears’ 12-7 win over the Vikings on Friday at Mort Fryer Ball Park in Petersburg. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas sweeps road games at Petersburg

Crimson Bears best Vikings in rainy two-game series.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kai Ciambor (14) has his shot blocked by Soldotna junior keeper Luke Hillyer during the Crimson Bears’ 3-0 win over the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS Crimson Bears boys outshine Soldotna Stars in 3-0 home win

Two keepers, one new and one old, one wins and one loses, both highlight.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Peyton Wheeler (5) has a shot stopped by Soldotna sophomore keeper Ryan Queen (55) as Stars senior Kendra Rose trails the play during the Crimson Bears’ 2-1 loss to the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe/ Juneau Empire)
JDHS soccer girls fall 2-1 to Soldotna

Crimson Bears dampened by Stars in home loss.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Pedrin Saceda-Hurt signed an NCAA Division III student-athlete form on Wednesday in the JDHS commons to attend Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and play for the Norse basketball team. At left is mother Nickie Saceda-Hurt and at right is father Frank Hurt. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)
Saceda-Hurt signs to play basketball at Iowa’s Luther College

JDHS senior exchanging mountains for rolling hills and cornfields.

Steelheading with a baby is no excuse for getting shut out. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
I Went to the Woods: It’s not fishing, its neuroscience

The payoff was coming. There was no doubt that with the high… Continue reading

The Juneau Youth Wrestling Club pose with other clubs at the Alaska USA Wrestling 2025 Folkstyle, Greco-Roman & Freestyle State Championships on May 1-3 at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. (Photo courtesy JYWC)
Juneau Youth Wrestling Club grapplers takedown state in style(s)

Team competes at Alaska USA Wrestling 2025 Folkstyle, Greco-Roman & Freestyle championships.

Most Read