by Tommy Wells
Kalila Pavilla and Keisha Demientieff both turned in outstanding performances this past weekend and helped carry the Akiuk Grizzlies to a 3-0 sweep of the Atmautluak Falcons in the finals of the Mixed Six championship tournament in front of a large crowd in the Bethel Regional High School gym.
This is the third year in a row that Akiuk and Atmautluak were in the championship game against each other. Akiuk is last year’s region champ. The top four teams all hail from the Kusko-Delta League.
Pavilla helped the Thunderbolts get off to a quick start against Atmautluak in the first game. He scored five points in the frame and led the Akiuk squad to a 25-18 win.
Nissa Egoak paced Atmautluak in the contest with seven points.
Demientieff and Nikolai Charles both pounded out six points in the second game and led the Thunderbolts to a 25-23 victory. Pavilla added five more.
Micah Frye helped the Falcons get close in Game 2. He scored eight points.
Pavilla and Demientieff both scored five in Game 3 and led Akiuk to a 25-21 win.
The 28 games played at the tournament were all officiated by refs Joe Yoder, Jimmy Andrew, and Paul Saltzman. Tournament official Mr. Gill thanked them for their tireless service. He also thanked the Lower Kuskokwim Journalism media students for live streaming the matches online so that parents and communities could watch their teams play. The matches can be viewed on their channel at youtube.com/lksdjournalism.
The Akiuk Grizzlies will be representing the Lower Kuskokwim School District at the Mixed 6 State Tournament Volleyball Championship on November 29 – December 1, 2018 at Dimond High School in Anchorage.
2018 Mixed Six Volleyball Conference Tournament
November 15-16, 2018 in Bethel, Alaska
Results
1st: Akiuk Grizzlies
Head Coach: Harry Nicholas
Principal: Alicia Miner
2nd: Atmautluak Falcons
Head Coach: Kevin Lopez
3rd: Akula Tundra Foxes
Head Coach: Manuel Seal II
4th: Nunapitchuk Wolves
Head Coach: Deanna Wassillie
Academic Award
Akiuk Grizzlies, 3.4 GPA
Sportsmanship Award
Tununak Coasters
Head Coach: Andrew Van Hulzen
All Stars
Wassillie Alexie Jr., Atmautluak
Ana Alexie, Kwethluk
Ethan Therchik, Toksook Bay
Piper Inman, Napakiak
Shawn Twitchell, Akula
Keisha Demientieff, Akiuk
Andrew Frank, Nunapitchuk
Nicole Charlie, Toksook Bay
Jayden Andrew, Akiuk
Crystal Brink, Nunapitchuk
Conrad Queenie, Newtok
Nissa Egoak, Atmautluak
Jaden Andrew, Nunapitchuk
Jaylene Nicholas, Akula
Nikolai Charles, Akiuk