The Haines Glacier Bears high school volleyball team won three out of four matches against Skagway during their first competition of the season last weekend.
In Skagway on Friday night, Haines’ varsity won the first two sets against Skagway, winning the match. Haines’ junior varsity then played Skagway’s varsity and lost the first two sets.
Because Skagway does not have a junior varsity team, Haines’ junior varsity competed against Skagway’s varsity team, according to head coach Katie Dickerson.
On Saturday night, Haines’ junior varsity made a comeback against Skagway’s varsity, winning the first two sets. In the same night, Haines’ varsity again beat Skagway’s varsity.
Dickerson said that the junior varsity team is nearly as strong as the varsity team this year.
“Our teams as a whole are much closer in skill and technique then I’ve seen in the past,” she said. The teams are so close that they often compete against each other in practice.
Dickerson recounted that sophomores Willow Oakley and Kiersten Long “really stepped up and played left side with some solid digs and some strong hits.”
“Senior Megan Whitermore led varsity as a setter,” said Dickerson.
The next games will be at the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza (JIVE) on Oct. 11-12.
Fans will have the opportunity to cheer on the Glacier Bears at home games on Oct. 18 -19. The games are free. Dickerson hopes to offer food at the concession stand. The team will be celebrating seniors on Oct. 19.