Kings regain their crown

For the first time in 32 years the Ketchikan Lady Kings have been crowned champions of 4A Region V volleyball.

And it wasn’t easy.

Ketchikan topped Juneau-Douglas in five sets on Saturday night at Thunder Mountain High School despite a match-high 24 kills from Crimson Bears senior Maddie McKeown.

“She is kind of intimidating,” Kayhi outside hitter Havalah Clark said. “After a while you see what she is capable of and try to adjust.”

Clark adjusted to lead Kayhi with 17 kills and four blocks in the championship match win.

“I feel pretty good,” Clark said. “I couldn’t have done it without the help of my team.”

Ketchikan last won the region crown in 1983.

“I am a little shaky,” Kayhi coach Naomi Michalsen said. “I am very excited. The girls worked very hard and it was a long time coming.”

It almost didn’t happen as JDHS forced a fifth set and a possible “if necessary” game.

McKeown would tally six kills in the fifth set, including three in a row that brought the Crimson Bears to within a point at 10-9.

Kayhi responded with kills by Gabby Clark, Kaia Michalsen and Kreylynn Johnson for the win.

“It is a sad feeling,” McKeown said. “Ketchikan pulled it out for the win and there is nothing you can say. They played harder. We were trying our hardest. It was a good season. Everyone worked hard to get back into that fifth game and there is not much you can do after that.”

The Crimson Bears had won the last 21 Region V volleyball championships.

“I just have to give Ketchikan credit,” JDHS coach Lesslie Knight said. “They had solid hitters all the way around. We had moments of greatness but Kayhi hit very well. Last night I went home and looked at stats and our serving, passing and hitting was good. You have to give credit to the opponent, they hit where we weren’t, and a lot.”

Ketchikan put three blockers on McKeown throughout the match.

“Nobody likes to watch a hitter that hits into the block over and over again,” McKeown said. “So I kind of figured that out. It doesn’t get you anywhere. I have to figure out how to hit around the block.”

Last season JDHS forced an “if necessary” championship match at the regions in Ketchikan and won by two points.

“It felt good to come back and do the same thing here in Juneau,” Ketchikan’s Michalsen said. “So to beat Juneau here in Juneau and not go to an ‘if’ game was pretty special. The key was to just play our game and stay focused. I think once we play a really good game, we kind of let up the next one. Not everyone was on every time, but the team had each other’s backs. You don’t have to be the best player to be a champion — you have to be a good teammate.”

Added teammate Kallen Hoover: “We have had a really great season. Maddie really came through for us today and we couldn’t pull it off. Ketchikan ended up being the better team. We had a lot of fun and we love each other a lot.”

“I feel pretty great,” Kayhi’s Kaia Michalsen said. “I was pretty nervous but couldn’t show it, I didn’t want my team to know that. The last game I was pretty determined. Our best blockers were Gabby and Kinani, they really helped the team and made a difference against JD’s best hitter.”

 

SATURDAY ELIMINATION GAME

The JDHS Crimson Bears swept TMHS in three sets Saturday to end the Falcons season.

TMHS took a 4-1 lead in set one behind Maya Haywood’s attacks but Maddie McKeown killed a shot for service and Worden served for the 5-4 advantage. After a Haywood point McKeown again earned the ball back and served to a 9-5 lead with one ace attached.

JDHS followed a Tona Fogg service run, including three kills from Kallen Hoover for a 13-6 advantage. A block by Haywood, a Maxie Saceda-Hurt kill and an Abby De Rocher kill chipped into the lead but the Crimson Bears pushed on to leads of 22-12 and ended the set with kills by McKeown and Hoover and a Falcons’ miss.

TM took a 9-4 lead in set two with a service stretch by De Rocher that included an ace and two blocks from Haywood.

“This weekend was one of the peaks of our season,” De Rocher said. “We really came together at the beginning of this tournament. Overall I think we did really well. I am not sad about the outcome. I think it was pretty even. Anyone could have won and overall I think we did okay.”

McKeown tied the game at 9-9 while on service with two aces and Fogg served to a 14-12 advantage with kills from Spargo, Hoover and McKeown.

TM closed to 14-13 on a Marissa Tanuvasa-Tuvaifale kill and closed to 17-16 on an unforced error but McKeown killed to win service.

Spargo served out the set with four kills from McKeown and an ace.

With McKeown serving, JDHS took a 14-6 lead largely in part to four unforced errors by TM.

DeRocher brought the Falcons back to within 16-11 but Hoover, Fogg and Spargo served out the match. The Falcons were hindered by the absence of contributing players taking college testing, which ended mid-way through the third set.

“Although we are sad we lost we played pretty well and did all we could,” TMHS’ Sara Wood said. “We can always do something differently. Just not giving them points or playing smarter. I think we did our best. I wouldn’t say Ketchikan was more challenging. For us as a team JDHS was more of a challenge. They have a solid offense and are high energy with a lot of spirit.”

Tourney play started Friday with second seed Ketchikan defeating No. 3 seed TMHS in four sets and also eating top-seeded JDHS in five sets.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS

TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP: Thunder Mountain Falcons.

ALL ACADEMIC: TMHS – Abby De Rocher, Maya Hayward, Kelley Olson, Sara Wood, Jamie Yaletchko. JD – Martina Worden, Tona Fogg, Kallen Hoover, Maddie McKeown. Kayhi – Whitney Hamilton, Jenny Hu, Kaia Michalsen, Gabriela Clark, Mina Matsuura.

ALL CONFERENCE: Mattie McKeown – JD, Kallen Hoover – JD, Maya Haywood – TM, Havalah Clark – Kayhi, Jenny Hu – Kayhi, Kaia Michalsen – Kayhi.

GREAT SPORT AWARD: TMHS – Mary Landes, Sara Wood. JDHS – Martina Warden, Tona Fogg. Kayhi – Whitney Hamilton – Kayhi, Mina Matsuura – Kayhi.

Passing Skills Champ: Maddie McKeown – JD.

Serving Skills Champ: Tona Fogg – JD.