The Haines girls’ volleyball team tallied a 9-5 record at an Oct. 16-17 Whitehorse tournament.
“Overall, we won more than we lost, and it was really a transformational, pivotal point in the season,” said assistant coach Liana Shull. Haines went 4-0 on Sunday.
“Sunday play was against both Whitehorse high schools’ varsity teams,” said coach Judy Erekson. “The Glacier Bear girls stepped it up and played their best to upset both teams. They found their rhythm and now know that when they put it all together, they’re a hard team to beat. The girls not only made an impression, they made new friends and learned how to work together to come home with a big win.”. “Working with their coaches and staff was a pleasure and their hospitality was amazing. They sent a 21-passenger van to pick up both teams, Haines and Thunder Mountain, and drove us from Haines to Whitehorse on Friday and then to Skagway on Sunday to catch the ferry home.”. The top two finishers at regionals will advance to the state competition in Wasilla on Nov. 11-13. “Anything can happen at regionals, and we feel our girls definitely have a chance at making it to state.”
She said Whitehorse was an impressive host for the tournament.
“Plans are in the works to host the Whitehorse schools here in Haines in the future, as they provided excellent competition without having to travel so far,” Erekson said
The Glacier Bears had two thrilling games with travel mate Thunder Mountain on Saturday, as the teams split both match-ups with a 26-24 score.
Erekson said the team has two weeks at home to fine-tune its game in preparation for the Craig Panthers in Craig, Nov. 1-2, and the 3A/4A regionals in Ketchikan on Nov. 4-6
Erekson said the team’s strengths included “solid serving and hard hitting from Abby Jones, consistent setting from Ashley Messerschmidt, hard-to-return hits from Teolani Lynch, Riley Erekson and Elizabeth Stevens, excellent play at the net from Amey Messerschmidt, awesome passing from defensive specialist Anna Jacobson and Brook Cinocco, who played despite a stiff neck, and great relief from freshmen, setter Libby Jacobson and outside hitter Coral Bauer.”
Shull said there were plans for a varsity scrimmage against a community team Wednesday at Haines High School, and another date with Skagway might be scheduled. The Glacier Bears topped Skagway, 25-8 and 25-17, in Whitehorse.