By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Mt. Edgecumbe volleyball team scored a 3-1 victory over the Sitka Wolves Tuesday night in the first round of the Region V volleyball tournament.
Both teams face off again tonight at 7 p.m., at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s BJ McGillis Gym.
Edgecumbe’s coach Mike Mahoney said that “the girls played with a ton of heart. They trusted each other to do their jobs and played together like the team we have always believed them to be.”
With set scores, Edgecumbe-Sitka, of 23-25, 25-18, 25-15, and 25-18, Mahoney’s statement rings true.
Though the game was played at Sitka High, the stands were packed with Edgecumbe students. Mahoney was ecstatic at the “great support from our fans last night!”
Lady Braves’ Emilyn Wassillie, of Togiak, bumps while playing against Sitka, at Sitka, Tuesday night. Libero Angelina Ong stands ready in the background. Edgecumbe won the first night of play 3-1. (Sentinel photo by James Poulson)
The local rivals have squared off twice already this season, with Sitka coming out ahead in both matches.
As usual, Edgecumbe’s seniors Vernae Raymoth and Shayna Warnke-Green were solid front line players. Mahoney added that Brody Wysocki “really emerged as a leader on the team.”
Mahoney said Delainey Steffes “has shown tremendous growth this season.” He was also happy to have Autumn Beans back in action after a long recovery from an injury.
Wolves’ coach Zaide Allen said that her team suffered on passing. She noted that Sitka’s is “a really young team that hasn’t played a game like this before.” Though Sitka had some rallies, according to Allen, they were not enough.
In the match tonight, Allen told the Sentinel that “we just need to go out and play.”
The cross-town rivals play again tonight, at 7 p.m., at MEHS. If Edgecumbe wins, the Braves will have secured a spot in the state meet. If Sitka wins, the competition will continue 7 p.m. Thursday at Sitka High School with a final tie breaker.
