In two marathon matches Friday and Saturday night, Juneau-Douglas High School volleyball bested Sitka High School, pushing their record to 3-1 on the season. The Crimson Bears won both nights in five sets, winning 25-20, 26-24, 19-25, 22-25 and 16-13 on Friday, and 20-25, 25-11, 18-25, 25-15 and 15-12 Saturday.
Strong blocking by junior Cassie Dzinich and freshman Kendyl Carson and excellent passing by senior Patricia Enriquez led JDHS to the wins. The Crimson Bears came from behind in all three of their sets Friday, benefiting from a determination to let go of mistakes.
“If we mess up, we throw the point away and it’s done, we don’t focus on it until after the game. We all just believe in each other and it’s super fun. I am really proud that we didn’t give up,” Dzinich said.
JDHS went down 7-21 in the second set of Friday’s match but stormed back with six and eight-point runs until an ace by junior Leah Spargo tied the set 24-24.
“Those were three massive comebacks. That’s a good sign and it’s going to help us during the season,” coach Leslie Kalbrener said. “We’ve been working on being emotionally unattached to our mistakes. The mental game is our big focus this year and they demonstrated that focus tonight. I am really happy with how they played.”
The Crimson Bears have switched to a 5-1 formation instead of a 6-2 formation, which allowed Enriquez to showcase her ball control and set up spikers like Carson, Dzinich and junior Abby Meiners.
Sitka could have easily taken either of the matches. Wolves coach Karen Krupa said that’s more than a consolation, it signals that her team is building in the right direction.
“To come out and lose in five sets, after not playing in the jamboree, and to lose two of those by only two points, I am happy with how our girls played tonight,” Krupa said after Friday’s match.
JDHS stats (Friday)
Juneau-Douglas 3, Sitka 2
25-20, 26-24, 19-25, 22-25, 16-13
Kills: Carson 14, Dzinich 9, Meiners 5, Spargo 4, Enriquez 2, McCormick 2
Solo Blocks: Dzinich 4, Carson 2
Block Assists: Dzinich 1, Spargo 1
Serving: Cesar 25/25, Meiners 14/14, Spargo 22/24, Enriquez 16/18, Dzinich 11/13, Carson 9/12
Aces: Cesar 2, Spargo 2, Enriquez 2, Dzinich 1, Carson 1
Digs: Enriquez 15, Cesar 15, Meiners 13, Stadt 11, Spargo 6, Dzinich 5, McCormick 4
Saturday
Juneau-Douglas 3, Sitka 2
20-25, 25-11, 18-25, 25-15, 15-12
Kills: Dzinich 11, Carson 9, Spargo 5, Cesar 4, Meiners 2
Solo Blocks: Dzinich 2
Block Assists: Meiners 2, Carson 1, Dzinich 1
Serving: Enriquez 22/26, Cesar 14/15, Dzinich 14/15, Meiners 2/2, Spargo 14/17, Carson 13/17, McCormick 8/10
Aces: Spargo 7, Enriquez 4, Carson 4, Dzinich 3, Cesar 1
Digs: Spargo 11, Cesar 9, Enriquez 8, Dzinich 6, Meiners 4, Carson 4
