by Greg Lincoln
by Delta Discovery Staff
The Aniak Halfbreeds Mixed 6 volleyball team is one of the best in the state. They took home the third place trophy after battling their way to the semifinals in the tough Mixed 6 bracket. The Halfbreeds represent the Greater Kuskokwim Conference.
The State Mixed 6 Tournament was sponsored by the Alaska Schools Activities Association and took place at Palmer High School, home of the Moose.
Other teams that competed at the state tournament included the Emmonak Huskies, Fort Yukon Eagles, Glacier View Wolverines, Golovin Lynx, Gustavus Foxes, Kake Thunderbirds, Napaaqtugmiut Lynx of Noatak, Shishmaref Northern Lights, Tanalian Lynx of Port Alsworth, and the Nunamiut Wolves of Anaktuvuk Pass.
The Toksook Bay Nelson Islanders representing the Alaska Coastal Conference were unable to make it to the tournament due to weather. They are last year’s sportsmanship award winners.
Coming in first were the Tanalian Lynx who also won last year and also in 2019. This year they defeated the team from Shishmaref – these two teams were also in the Mixed 6 championship finals last year.
In the opening rounds of the tournament, the Emmonak Huskies beat the team from Glacier View in two games: 25-22, 25-22. The Aniak Halfbreeds also defeated the Fort Yukon Eagles, 26-24 and 25-8. The Halfbreeds played another game on Thursday against Golovin. They lost 26-24 and 25-10.
The Emmonak Huskies advanced on through the winners bracket to the quarterfinals. The Toksook Bay team was still weathered out.
Quarterfinalists including Emmonak were Shishmaref, Golovin, and Tanalian.
On Friday, the Shishmaref team defeated Emmonak 25-10, 25-14, and 25-18. On the consolation bracket Aniak beat Glacier View 25-16 and 25-17. The also beat Noatak 25-22 and 25-15. Aniak advanced to play Emmonak in the consolation bracket.
The Halfbreeds were victorious against their Emmonak Huskies counterparts 25-16, 25-22. Aniak advanced to play against Golovin which they defeated 2-1 on Saturday morning 19-25, 25-18, and 25-17. Their only loss came from Golovin on Day 1 of the tournament.
The last semifinal game was between Aniak and Shishmaref. Shishmaref won 25-15, 25-18 to advance to the championship round with Tanalian. Tanalian won 3-0, 25-15, 25-17, and 25-20 and the Mixed 6 state crown.
The gym at Palmer High School was full of volleyball fans from all over the state. There were two courts going simultaneously – on the other side of the gym the 2A State Volleyball tournament was also underway.
Mixed 6 State Volleyball
December 1-3, 2022
1st Tanalian Lynx of Port Alsworth
2nd Shishmaref Northern Lights
3rd Aniak Halfbreeds
4th Golovin Lynx
