After a send-off pep rally from the Haines High School, the Glacier Bears varsity volleyball team heads to the Southeast regional championship in Metlakatla this weekend.
Teams from Petersburg, Skagway, Klawock, Metlakatla, Wrangell and Craig will compete.
“We will see many of the same teams we have been playing in the past few weeks and hope to be competitive with a full string of players,” said coach Katie Dickerson.
The schedule for this weekend has been determined by two seeding tournaments this season. Haines placed sixth out of seven teams, beating out Skagway. Craig is seeded as the first team.
The Glacier Bears competed in the north seeding tournament in Petersburg Nov. 2-3, but did not win a full match due to injuries, Dickerson said.
In past years, Dickerson said the girls have beat Skagway, but this year lost to them in the closing match when they were down a few players.
Dickerson said that team captains Morgan Cloke and Marissa Haddock kept morale high throughout the competition and showed strong leadership.
“Megan Whitermore and Morgan Cloke were stand-out servers with several aces between them,” Dickerson said. “Becca Wheeler and Willow Oakley led the team in kills, while Raine Winge had several impressive tips.”
The Glacier Bears will compete against Petersburg in their first match at the regional competition this weekend.
The qualifying teams will compete in the state championship games on Nov. 29-30 in Anchorage.