by Greg Lincoln
The Tuntutuliak Bluejays won the 2023 Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) Mixed 6 Volleyball tournament held in Eek, home of the Cougars, this past weekend, Nov. 16-18th.
The Bluejays will be representing LKSD and the Alaska Coastal Conference at the State Mixed 6 finals that will take place at Palmer High School November 30 – December 2, 2023. This is their first trip to the state Mixed 6 tournament, congratulations!
Tuntutuliak defeated the Akula Tundra Fox team from Kasigluk to win the tournament.
Mixed 6 teams participating in the tournament included Akiuk, Akula, Chefornak, Kipnuk, Kongiganak, Nightmute, Nunapitchuk, Toksook Bay, Tuntutuliak, and the host team of Eek.
In the opening round of the single elimination tournament, the Kongiganak Wolverines defeated the Nightmute Nighthawks and the Nunapitchuk Wolves defeated the Kipnuk Falcons.
Top-seeded Akula won their game with Kongiganak to advance to the semifinals. The Chefornak Shamans won against the Akiuk Grizzlies also to advance as did Toksook Bay who beat Nunapitchuk.
Semifinal matches were between Akula and Chefornak and Toksook Bay and Tuntutuliak in the single elimination tournament. Akula and Tuntutuliak both won their semifinal matches to be in the championship game. The Bluejays will have their first state match against the Southeast Conference #2 team on Thursday, November 30th at 11:15am at the Palmer High School.
The winner of the Yukon River Conference will be playing the winner of the Southwest and Western #2 game, also on Thursday. The Greater Kuskokwim team will play the winter of Southeast #1 and Denali #2.
The Mixed 6 tournament will be happening simultaneously as the 2A Volleyball state championships at the same venue.
Alaska Coastal Mixed 6 Results
November 16-18, 2023
1st Tuntutuliak Bluejays
2nd Akula Tundra Foxes
Academic Award: Akula 3.56
Sportsmanship Award: Akiuk Grizzlies
All Tournament Team
Felagai Laumea, Chefornak
Bethany Lincoln, Toksook Bay
Ashton White, Tuntutuliak
Larissa Berlin, Akiuk
Trenton Brink, Akula
Olinka Brink, Nunapitchuk
Jairus Ayaprun, Kipnuk
Meagan Charlie, Kongiganak
George Hoffman, Eek
Mariah Tinker, Kongiganak
