by Greg Lincoln
Mixed 6 volleyball has returned to the court after a yearlong gap due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Alaska Coastal Conference.
The Toksook Bay Islanders Mixed 6 volleyball team is the 2021 Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) Alaska Coastal Conference champions. The team will be representing LKSD at the Mix 6 State Championship finals in Anchorage, December 2-4, 2021. Games will be played at Dimond High School.
Coming in second were the Tuntutuliak Bluejays in the single elimination tournament.
Mixed 6 Volleyball teams from LKSD met in Bethel for regional finals taking place at the WarriorDome, Friday and Saturday, November 19-20, 2021. Bethel High School principal Alicia Miner welcomed the teams to the tournament.
The Napakiak Huskies coached by Alanna Spencer and the Kongiganak Wolverines coached by Imari Grace Tan played during the opening game, Kongiganak won all three sets 25-18, 25-16, and 25-22. Kong’s Eugene Ivon had a nice tip during set 1. He also blocked a Napakiak hit. Daysha Tinker of Kong had some great serves. Napakiak’s Ashton Charlie scored an ace.
Game two was between the Quinhagak SeaHawks coached by Elijah Dorsey and the Tununak Coasters coached by Sherry Kanrilak. Lady SeaHawk Destiny Sam tipped the ball over the net to score. Her teammate Heather Tom scored an ace. Tununak’s Lucas Flynn hit a couple nice digs. Quinhagak’s Hillary Beebe dug deep to keep the ball in space. Quinhagak won, 3-1: 25-21, 25-19, and 25-19. Tununak won the third set, 25-14.
The Islanders were scheduled to fly in on Friday, but were stuck due to airplane mechanical issues. They were able to make it to the tournament on Saturday morning where they played the Kongiganak Wolverines. Toksook Bay coached by Cassidy Trusori and Assistant Coach Katie Frutiger won to advance to the championship game with the Tuntutuliak Bluejays. The Bluejays coached by Angela Saucier defeated the Quinhagak SeaHawks in the semifinals in three sets 25-13, 25-16, and 25-5.
LKSD Student Activities Director Sharon Wegner emceed the awards ceremony. She thanked all the teams for coming, and the staff who helped with the scoring and running a smooth tournament – Jim Biela, Anna Jackson-Kasayulie, Amanda O’Boyle who kept the books, and 3A volleyball state qualifier BRHS Lady Warrior Jordan Wheeler who manned the scoreboard, the line judges and tournament officials Paul Saltzman and Wassillie Kassel.
Special thanks went out to Tommy Bayayok who went live online in the WarriorNest with all the games so folks could watch from home.
The Toksook Bay Islanders were also awarded the Highest GPA Award. The Quinhagak SeaHawks received the Sportsmanship Award. This is the Islanders first trip to state for the Mixed 6 tournament.
2021 Alaska Coastal Conference Mixed 6 Volleyball Tournament Results
November 19-20, 2021
1st Toksook Bay Islanders
2nd Tuntutuliak Bluejays
All Star Tournament Team
Kurtis Castel, Tuntutuliak
Garrett Mute, Kongiganak
Hillary Beebe, Quinhagak
Asa Pitka, Toksook Bay
Aezlynn Carl, Tuntutuliak
Daysha Tinker, Kongiganak
Serena Kanrilak, Tununak
Eugene Ivon, Kongiganak
Heather Tom, Quinhagak
Precious Tuluk, Toksook Bay
Sportsmanship Award: Quinhagak SeaHawks
Highest GPA Award: Toksook Bay Islanders
