The Thunder Mountain High School volleyball team hosted the Ketchikan Lady Kings this weekend with matches on Friday and Saturday for the first conference games of the season.
“Both teams were really evenly matched, the games were close and tight, there was very good offense and defense from both teams, it was just the best kind of volleyball you get to play and coach and watch from the stands,” said TMHS coach Julie Herman
On Friday, TMHS the junior varsity and varsity teams both won their respective matches 3 sets to none.
On Saturday, the Thunder Mountain JV and varsity teams continued their dominance by sweeping the Lady Kings again. The varsity scores were 25-21, 25-17 and 26-24. Herman said the two victories give Falcons a 2-0 record in conference play.
“It’s always nice to be able to not have to go into the fourth and fifth set against your opponent, but instead just get it done in three in a row,” Herman said. “So, we’re 2-0 in the conference now for Region V and we’re excited about the future moving forward at this point.”
Outside hitter/setter combo player Moana Tuvifale pulled down the most aces for the weekend as well running the offense, according to Herman. Another big hitter over the weekend was senior middle Mallory Welling, who led the team in kills and blocks.
Additional notable players for the weekend games were Jenna Dobson, Ashlyn Gates, Herman said, and Serenity Ault shined in back row.
“Ketchikan pressed us hard on their serves and our defense, so we had to work pretty hard to put up nice passes,” Herman said. “It was just really high-level volleyball this weekend; we’re really proud of our program. Ketchikan always puts up a really good opponent match and our kids delivered some high-level play, lots of kills, hits, digs and just really showed quite a bit of mental toughness in all of the varsity matches, all of our varsity sets. (Ketchikan) was right behind us the whole way and so it was point for point a lot and we’re happy to have come out on top.”
TMHS will be on the road the next two weekends, first the team will travel to Sitka for Jamboree, then the following weekend they travel to Anchorage for the Spiketacular tournament at Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. After that, the Falcons will come back to the capital city for a home and away match with Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Sept. 23 and 24.
• Contact reporter Jonson Kuhn at jonson.kuhn@juneauempire.com.
Juniors Ashlyn Gates and Jayden Rosenbruch defend against the Ketchikan Lady Kings this weekend. The Falcons now have a 2-0 record in conference play. (Juneau Empire / Ben Hohenstatt)
Senior Mallory Wellin had a big game this weekend by leading the TMHS volleyball team in kills and blocks against the Ketchikan High School Lady Kings. (Juneau Empire / Ben Hohenstatt)
