This previous week featured a plethora of normal and postseason motion at each the prep and collegiate degree throughout the Alaska sports activities panorama. Within the opening spherical of the Division I highschool soccer playoffs, Bettye Davis East put the clamps on West to advance, Bartlett gained a high-scoring affair with Dimond, and the Division II and III semifinals performed out as anticipated. The Colony Excessive volleyball staff surprised top-ranked Dimond and the College of Alaska Anchorage volleyball staff stayed sizzling because of its dynamic upperclassmen duo. Additionally, the prep tennis and cross-country seasons come to a detailed with state tournaments.
Headlines and highlights
The highschool soccer playoffs obtained underway this previous weekend and whereas virtually all the upper seeds that hosted a recreation got here away victorious, East made certain that it wasn’t a clear sweep with its 21-14 win over crosstown rival West in a CIC matchup on Friday night time. Led by a tenacious defensive effort, the Thunderbirds shut out the Eagles within the second half and scored all of the factors they wanted to prevail within the first half. They avenged a 21-6 dwelling loss earlier within the season by returning the favor on the street.
[East shuts out West in second half to punch ticket to semifinals of Division I football playoffs]
Whereas nonetheless successful by double figures, Bartlett’s 55-35 win over Dimond was removed from commanding in a CIC showdown earlier in the identical day. The Golden Bears solely led 14-7 at halftime, earlier than an offensive onslaught from each groups unfolded within the second half. Neither protection appeared to have any reply for the opposite’s prime offensive weapon. Neither Niko Alailefaleula of Bartlett or Malachi Casey of Dimond might be stopped all recreation lengthy.
“We’re very bodily and never simply because we’re large,” Bartlett coach and 2022 CIC Coach of the 12 months Probability Matsuoka mentioned. “We’re very robust and we’re in form. We will maintain pounding the ball and blocking and operating exhausting all 4 quarters. That’s exhausting for lots of groups to deal with.”
Alailefaleula ran for 331 yards and scored 4 touchdowns on the bottom. Within the fourth quarter alone, he had scoring runs of 74 and 71 yards that primarily put the sport out of attain for the Lynx. The primary-team, all-conference operating again and linebacker additionally had a 60-yard landing known as again by penalty however he was nonetheless credited with a 48-yard achieve. He gave the overwhelming majority of the credit score to his road-grading offensive line.
“O-line did all the things for me being profitable, getting me to the second degree, and I hit the burners,” Alailefaleula mentioned. “I wouldn’t get the yards with out them and we wouldn’t get the win with out them.”
Casey tormented the Golden Bears’ secondary for a lot of the recreation as he and fellow senior Tyler Reese linked for 3 touchdowns, all of which went for over 20 yards. The all-conference quarterback-and-wide receiver connection stored Dimond inside putting distance via the primary three quarters. Reese accomplished 21 passes for 365 yards and 5 touchdowns and Casey caught 9 of these passes for 195 receiving yards. Senior broad receiver Vance Harris additionally had a standout efficiency with seven receptions for 120 receiving yards and a pair of 20-plus-yard touchdowns.
The soccer staff wasn’t the one varsity program from Dimond to expertise the bitter style of defeat up to now week. The Lynx’s top-ranked volleyball staff suffered its first loss to an Alaska opponent final Monday on the street when Colony upset them in 4 units 3-1. It marked the primary non-tournament assembly between the 2 groups this season and the senior-heavy Knights’ roster got here away with an enormous confidence-building assertion win. Tatum Shelton and Taylee Weiss tied for the staff lead in digs with 19 and Weiss recorded a double-double by main the staff with 17 kills.
“I believe it’s confidence enhance,” Colony coach Steve Reynolds mentioned. “You get that have and say ‘Hey we are able to do that, we are able to beat this staff’ at time within the season.”
Whereas the Dimond soccer staff had its season come to an finish, its flag soccer staff superior to the semifinal spherical of the CIC regional playoffs with a 34-0 shutout of Eagle River. The Lynx had 4 gamers rating touchdowns on offense, led by junior Mai Mateaki, who ran in a seven-yard rating and caught one other from 10 yards out.
It wasn’t all unhealthy for West Excessive sports activities this previous weekend as its tennis program claimed its tenth state title and fourth in a row. The Eagles had been highlighted by their state title-winning girls and boys doubles groups and state runner-up combined doubles staff however had been propelled by their super depth.
[West claims 10th Alaska high school state tennis championship in another landslide]
The Eagles have had three totally different pairings win every of the final three ladies doubles state titles with one fixed being senior Eva Lief. The three-time champion has been one of many program’s stalwarts throughout her time at West.
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Chugiak star senior distance runner Campbell Peterson accomplished her dominant closing cross-country season by main the Mustangs to a Division I state title within the ladies division. She cruised to a first-place end with a formidable mark of 19 minutes, 16 seconds, and the staff completed properly forward of the remainder of the sector with a complete rating of 42.
[Chugiak, Colony and Grace Christian among big winners at Alaska state cross-country championships]
On the faculty volleyball scene, UAA improved its total report to 19-1 and stayed an ideal 9-0 in convention play with a pair of overwhelming victories over Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene inside a 72-hour interval. Main the cost had been the standard suspects in star seniors Eve Stephens and Ellen Floyd, who earned weekly convention honors for his or her play within the two matches. Stephens prolonged her convention report of weekly awards to 12 along with her fifth of the season and first of the defensive selection. Floyd was named the GNAC Offensive Participant of the Week, which marked her first of the season and fourth of her profession.
The UAA hockey staff obtained swept by Colorado School in a two-game street collection. The Seawolves misplaced 6-2 on Friday and 4-1 Saturday. Connor Marritt, Brett Bamber and Maximilion Helgeson tallied targets for the Seawolves on the street journey.
The Anchorage Wolverines bounced again from getting swept by the Minnesota Wilderness final week in a three-game street collection by sweeping the in-state rival Fairbanks Ice Canines in a two-game street collection this previous weekend. They gained 6-2 on Friday and 4-2 on Saturday.
Final Week’s Outcomes
Prep Soccer
Friday
Bartlett 55, Dimond 35
East 21, West 14
Colony 51, Service 34
Houston 40, Barrow 0
Soldotna 34, North Pole 20
Saturday
Juneau 52, South 21
Lathrop 35, Chugiak 0
Homer 54, Nikiski 20
Flag Soccer
Thursday
South 38, Chugiak 0
Dimond 34, Eagle River 0
Service 16, Bartlett 0
West 7, East 0
Swimming
Friday
Twin meet
West v Dimond
Boys: Dimond 119, West 57
Ladies: Dimond 124, West 52
South v Service
Boys: South 135, Service 48
Ladies: Dimond 130, Service 54
Prep Volleyball
Monday
Colony 3, Dimond 1 (25-20, 13-25, 25-21, 26-24)
Thursday
Chugiak 3, Bartlett 1 (16-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-17)
Dimond 3, South 0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-16)
Friday
Service 3, Eagle River 0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-11)
Saturday
Dimond 3, Service 0 (25-12, 28-26, 25-16)
Riflery
South 7, West 0
Service 5, Dimond 2
Prep tennis
State Event
Ladies singles
(Double elimination format with elimination units going to 4 video games as a substitute of 6)
Play-in
Siekmann, West Valley, def. Littlechief, Colony, 3-6, 7-5, 13-11
First spherical
Al. Pedalino, Service, def. Peace, Wasilla, 6-0, 6-0
Az. Pedalino, Service, def. Inexperienced, West, 6-1, 6-3
White, Monroe Catholic, def. Pikul, Juneau-Douglas, 6-1, 2-6, 10-3
Yu, West, def. Siekmann, 6-0, 6-1
Second spherical
Al. Pedalino def. Az. Pedalino, 6-2, 6-3
White def. Yu, 3-6, 6-2, 11-9
Third spherical
Al. Pedalino def. White 6-1, 6-2
Loser-out
Littlechief def. Peace 4-2, 4-1
Littlechief def. Inexperienced 1-4, 4-1, 10-8
Pikul def. Siekmann, 4-2, 4-1
Pikul def. Aż. Pedalino 5-3, 5-4
Yu def. Littlechief 4-1, 4-1
Pikul def. Yu 4-0, 4-1
Pikul def. White 4-0, 4-0
Finals
Pikul def. Al. Pedalino 7-5, 3-2 (retired)
Pikul def. Al. Pedalino 4-0, 4-1
Boys singles
(Double elimination)
Play-in
Siekmann, West Valley, def. Christianson, Colony, 6-1, 6-0
First spherical
Escobar, Service, def. Crawford, Colony, 6-0, 6-0
Welch, Juneau-Douglas, def. Ilgenfritz, West Valley, 6-0, 6-0
Griffin, South, def. Brooks, Dimond, 6-2, 6-3
Cerbian, West, def. Siekmann, 6-4, 6-3
Second spherical
Escobar def. Welch, 6-2, 6-1
Griffin def. Cerbian, 6-4, 6-2
Third spherical
Griffin def. Escobar, 6-3, 3-6, 16-14
Loser-out
Crawford def. Christianson, 4-0, 4-1
Crawford def. Ilgenfritz 4-2, 2-4, 10-8
Cebrian def. Crawford 4-2, 4-0
Siekmann def. Brooks, 4-1, 4-0
Siekmann def. Welch, 4-0, 4-2
Siekmann def. Cebrian 4-0, 0-4, 10-6
Escobar def. Siekmann, 4-1, 4-0
Finals
Escobar def. Griffin 6-1, 6-3
Griffin def. Escobar, 1-4, 5-3, 10-7
Ladies doubles
(Double elimination)
Play-in
Hollcraft/Dahle, Lathrop, def. Pettit/Baker, Palmer, 6-1, 6-2
First spherical
Spils/Fagerstrom, Dimond, def. Scanlon/Anderson, Lathrop, 6-0, 6-0
Bixby/Ligsay, Juneau-Douglas, def. Payne/Loggins, Colony, 6-1, 6-3
Lief/Yang, West, def. Hanna/Moffett, Chugiak, 6-0, 6-0
Hollcraft/Dahle def. Li/O’Leary, West, 6-1, 6-3
Second spherical
Spils/Fagerstrom def. Bixby/Ligsay, 6-0, 6-1
Lief/Yang def. Hollcraft/Dahle, 5-7, 6-1, 10-6
Third spherical
Lief/Yang def. Spils/Fagerstrom, 6-4, 6-1
Loser-out
Scanlon/Anderson def. Pettit/Baker, 5-4, 4-0
Scanlon/Anderson def. Payne/Loggins, 5-3, 4-1
Hollcraft/Dahle def. Scanlon/Anderson, 4-2, 4-0
Li/O’Leary def. Hanna/Moffett, 4-1, 5-3
Li/O’Leary def. Bixby/Ligsay, 4-1, 2-4, 10-7
Hollcraft/Dahle def. Li/O’Leary, 4-2, 4-1
Spils/Fagerstrom def. Hollcraft/Dahle, 2-4, 4-1, 10-8
Finals
Spils/Fagerstrom def. Lief/Yang, 7-5, 6-4
Lief/Yang def. Spils/Fagerstrom, 4-2, 4-1
Boys doubles
(Double elimination)
Play-in
Zimmer/Flynn, West, def. Hoyt/Mobley, Wasilla, 6-3, 6-4
First spherical
Clendaniel/Cebrian, West, def. Buss/Kohlhase, Juneau-Douglas, 6-0, 6-1
Ulman/Bailey, South, def. Whitney/Motton, Colony, 3-6, 6-0, 10-7
Reinheller/Reinheller, West Valley, def. Lafond/Kim, Lathrop, 6-3, 6-3
Teasley/Yoon, Dimond, def. Zimmer/Flynn, 6-2, 6-0
Second spherical
Clendaniel/Cebrian def. Ulman/Bailey, 6-2, 6-3
Teasley/Yoon def. Reinheller/Reinheller, 3-6, 6-4, 10-7
Third spherical
Clendaniel/Cebrian def. Teasley/Yoon, 6-2, 7-6
Loser-out
Hoyt/Mobley def. Buss/Kohlhase, 5-3, 1-4, 10-8
Whitney/Motton def. Hoyt/Mobley, 4-2, 4-0
Reinheller/Reinheller def. Whitney/Motton, 5-3, 4-0
Zimmer/Flynn, def. Lafond/Kim, 0-4, 5-3, 10-8
Zimmer/Flynn def. Ulman/Bailey, 1-4, 5-3, 10-6
Reinheller/Reinheller def. Zimmer/Flynn, 4-2, 4-1
Teasley/Yoon def. Reinheller/Reinheller, 4-5, 4-2, 10-6
Finals
Clendaniel/Cebrian def. Teasley/Yoon, 6-2, 6-4
Blended doubles
(Double elimination)
Play-in
Macasland/Slama, Eagle River, def. Toche/Caldentey, Palmer, 6-1, 6-0
First spherical
Jameson/Skaaren, South, def. Hilling/Beardsley, Lathrop, 6-0, 6-0
Jung/Batac, Dimond, def. Matteson/Jones, Ben Eielson, 6-0, 6-2
Smith/Sedwick, West, def. Cox/Breshears, Wasilla, 6-1, 6-1
Dale/West, Juneau-Douglas, def. Macasland/Slama, 6-1, 6-0
Second spherical
Jameson/Skaaren def. Jung/Batac 6-0, 6-0
Smith/Sedwick def. Dale/West, 6-4, 4-6, 11-9
Third spherical
Jameson/Skaaren def. Smith/Sedwick 6-3, 7-6
Loser-out
Hilling/Beardsley def. Toche/Caldentey, 4-1, 4-1
Matteson/Jones def. Hilling/Beardsley, 2-4, 4-2, 10-5
Dale/West def. Matteson/Jones, 4-0, 4-0
Macasland/Slama def. Cox/Breshears, 4-0, 4-0
Jung/Batac def. Macasland/Slama, 1-4, 4-2, 10-6
Dale/West def. Jung/Batac, 2-4, 4-2, 10-2
Smith/Sedwick def. Dale/West, 4-0, 4-2
Finals
Jameson/Skaaren def. Smith/Sedwick, 7-6, 6-4
School
Volleyball
Thursday
UAA 3, CWU 0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-16)
Saturday
UAA 3, Northwest Nazarene 1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-14, 25-21)
Hockey
Friday
Colorado School 6, UAA 2
Saturday
Colorado School 4, UAA 1
NAHL
Friday
Anchorage Wolverines 6, Fairbanks Ice Canines 2
Saturday
Anchorage Wolverines 4, Fairbanks Ice Canines 2
Three issues to look at for this week
Prep soccer
Colony at Bartlett, 3 p.m. Saturday
Whereas East takes on top-ranked Juneau within the state capital, the Golden Bears will host the Knights on the similar time on the town for the second time this season. The final time these two groups performed got here in Week 6 of the common season and Bartlett handed Colony a humbling 46-7 loss. Since then, the Knights have gained every of their final three video games by almost 20 factors, together with back-to-back blowouts over Service to shut the common season and within the quarterfinals of the Division I playoffs. Two of the state’s greatest gamers will see loads of one another on this recreation. Offensive Participant of the 12 months Niko Alailefaleula of Bartlett and Defensive Participant of the 12 months Jack Nash of Colony play each methods for his or her respective groups.
Division II and III state championship video games, midday and 4:30 p.m. Saturday
A pair of title video games will happen simply earlier than and proper after that matchup at Service Excessive College when Lathrop and Soldotna play one another at midday and Houston will tackle Homer later that night at 4:30 p.m. Whereas the Hawks and Mariners have already performed this season and can achieve this once more to determine who takes dwelling the Division III championship, the Malamutes and Stars have been on a collision course to satisfy within the Division II championship. This may mark the groups’ third straight assembly within the state title recreation, excluding the 2020 season when their was no state playoffs because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
School volleyball
Seattle Pacific at UAA, 7 p.m. Thursday
The Sewolves can be returning dwelling following a three-matchup street journey and can be seeking to lengthen their spectacular successful streak from 11 to an excellent dozen once they host the Falcons on the Alaska Airways Middle. These two Nice Northwest Athletic Convention groups confronted one another as soon as already this season in a tightly contested match that went all the way down to the wire and UAA got here out on prime 3-2 on Sept. 17. Two days later, the Seawolves will host one other GNAC opponent in Montana State Billings on the similar time and place.