This story has been updated with additional information.
Thunder Mountain High School again made a strong showing and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé again struggled, but ultimately both fell short during bracket play by 21 teams participating in the 2023 West Spiketacular Tournament in Anchorage on Friday and Saturday.
The TMHS Falcons made it to the eight-team championship bracket by finishing 9-3 in sets overall during pool play, but were knocked out in the first round on Saturday, losing 2-1 in sets to eventual second-place finisher Kenai Central High School. The Falcons also lost their subsequent consolation game to Dimond High School in straight sets, finishing the tournament in a tie for fifth place overall with three other teams.
The Falcons’ Jayden Rosenbrunch, a senior, was among the eight players selected to the all-tournament team out of more than 200 participants.
The JDHS Crimson Bears finished last in pool play at 0-12, putting them into a play-in match against Bartlett High School to be among the four finalists in the tournament’s Bronze Bracket. JDHS won the play-in game in two straight sets, but then lost in straight sets to eventual bracket winner Nikiski Middle And High School.
THMS finished sixth in pool play, with a plus-40 point differential. The team prevailed over Bartlett by set scores of 25-16 and 25-12; split with Anchorage West 25-15 and 19-25; lost to Wasilla High School 18-25 and 8-25; defeated Seward 25-18 and 25-15; defeated Homer 25-18 and 25-21; and defeated West Valley 25-11 and 26-24.
JDHS finished last, with its minus-127 point differential also being the worst among the teams. The Crimson Bears lost to Nikiski 20-25 and 5-25; Service 8-25 and 12-25; Anchorage South 18-25 and 13-25; Kenai Central 14-25 and 13-25; Colony 15-25 and 12-25; and Kodiak 22-25 and 11-15.
Wasilla, which finished 12-0 with a plus-156 point differential, won the tournament by defeating Kenai 2-1.
JDHS’s next volleyball match is at home Thursday against Mt. Edgecumbe High School. TMHS will play on Friday on JDHS’ court and on Saturday on the Falcons’ home court.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
