By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Sitka High School girls volleyball team swept the visiting Barrow Lady Whalers on Thursday in the Sitka High gym, winning in straight sets 25-23, 2512.
The Wolves had their offensive attack in high gear, including 8 kills from senior Joei Vidad, and 7 apiece from seniors Avery Voron and Miah Dumag.
Sitka’s Miah Dumag kills a shot against Barrow’s Madison Nicely during the Wolves 25-23, 25-12 match win over the Lady Whalers on Thursday at Sitka High School. The two teams play again today at 4 p.m. and Mt. Edgecumbe hosts Juneau-Douglas. Sitka plays JDHS at 7 p.m. tonight and Mt. Edgecumbe hosts Barrow. (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)
“I feel like it is the tedious things that we need to work on,” Sitka senior Joei Vidad said. “Coach is very lenient on those, but everything has to be perfect and I think that is exactly what we did tonight. We all worked together. We were one court and all moving.”
The Wolves passes were on target to the setter, aligning chest and hips to control the ball.
Barrow had a 3-0 lead when Dumag killed a shot to secure service and junior Tamara Zankiz aced a serve.
After a Barrow point, Voron served for a 6-4 lead including an ace. The sides traded points and rallies with Zankiz killing a 9-8 lead.
After Barrow’s Jillian Chrestman-Adams killed a shot, Voron answered again and Vidad added two kills for a 14-10 advantage.
Barrow’s Chrestman-Adams secured service and had two aces to take a 15-14 lead.
Sitka regained the lead at 16-15 but Barrow’s Jenilee Donovan killed a shot, served an ace and teammate Alyssa Grimes killed for an 18-16 lead.
Vidad killed one point back and after a Barrow miss hit, Dumag killed for service to tie the score at 19-19.
A Sitka miss hit gave the service to Barrow and they went up 22-19 until they put a shot into the net.
Dumag served a point to 23 and Voron tipped over a shot for set point.
Barrow’s Janel Fruean killed a shot to draw the Lady Whalers within a point at 24-23 but Voron tipped another score for the set winner, 25-23.
“Usually I have just been trying to kill it,” Voron said. “Now I’m trying to get it in most of the time, even if it means tipping it or hitting a chip shot. I’m trying to mix it up more.”
Sitka took early control of game two, taking a 9-3 lead including five straight serves with an ace by Vidad.
“We always say E.P.M.,” Vidad said. “Every Point Matters. And that’s how we play.”
They had a 14-5 advantage with Dumag at the service line and kills by Voron and Kenzie Fredrickson, and 18-8 with Voron on a kill and an ace.
Vidad killed for service at 19 and held to 23-10 with a kill and an ace and two kills by Dumag.
A miss hit gave Barrow 11 and Lady Whalers Jordan Ahgeak blocked for their final point.
A Barrow service error gave the ball to Sitka and Forrester served over for the win, and match, 25-12.
Sitka head coach Natalie Voron said the Wolves have been working a lot at being aggressive, in control, and varying up their play.
“Trying hard not to hit it out,” she said. “Really just trying to get those passes where they need to be so that we can set up something that is offensive if it’s not a total slam. Let’s put some tips over, let’s vary up our offense a little bit – that, coupled with the passing, we did very well tonight.”
Voron noted the play of setters Zankiz, 10 digs, for her defense behind the blocks, and the faster jump sets by Forrester, 7 digs, and junior Tiffany Elefante, 3 digs, for getting the offense started.
Voron did get upset when the team had a rally shortened by complacency.
“They think the ball is dead on the other side, and it was not, and they caught us relaxing,” Voron said. “That is frustrating for a coach. You play to the whistle.”
The Wolves host Barrow again today at 4 p.m. and Juneau-Douglas at 7 p.m. tonight. On Saturday Sitka hosts JDHS at 4 p.m. and Barrow at 7 p.m. (JDHS and Barrow play at 2 p.m. at MEHS).
