Focused for state
Undefeated Crimson Bears seek end to title drought this weekend
Like the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl, the Juneau-Douglas High School volleyball team has come close to winning the state tournament time and time again. But the ultimate prize - a state title - has always remained just out of reach.
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It's happened to the Crimson Bears 15 times over the last 14 years. But there is something different about this year's squad. The Crimson Bears are undefeated, regional champions and a favorite to claim the Class 4A state crown.
"I think that this is the year," senior Amy Neussl said. "This is how we want to be remembered."
The Crimson Bears open state tourney play against the Chugiak Mustangs at 7 p.m. Thursday in the West Anchorage High School gym. Juneau is 17-0 in best-three-of-five matches this season, and 91-5 in all games.
Juneau co-coach Sandi Wagner said the team does not feel it is due to win at state, but said this year's squad is something special.
"We've never had an undefeated team before," she said. "We've got a team with great chemistry. ... We've just got a special combination of kids."
"I love our team chemistry this year. It's awesome," junior outside hitter Julie Heard said. "That's why our team is so strong."
The Chugiak Mustangs (14-11), who finished in third place at the Region IV tourney with a win over top-seeded Dimond, are a familiar foe for the Crimson Bears. Juneau swept Chugiak in a two-game mini-match in October at the Service-Dimond Invitational in Anchorage. Earlier that month, the Crimson Bears beat the Mustangs in a match at the JIVE Tournament in Juneau - though the Mustangs handed Juneau one of its five game losses this season. Juneau won that match 15-12, 10-15, 15-2, 15-12.
Last season, the Crimson Bears beat Chugiak in the third-place match at the state tournament.
"They're going to want revenge," Neussl said. "They know what we're about, and are going to try different things."
"They're tough servers," Wagner said of Chugiak. "If we can pass, we'll definitely stay in the game."
Wagner said the Juneau will have to play in top form to beat the Mustangs - but Chugiak also will have to play flawlessly if its wants to knock off the Crimson Bears.
Looking at the entire state tournament field, there will be a new state champion this year because last year's title-winner, Wasilla, did not make the field. Juneau has faced all but two - Palmer and Skyview - of the seven other teams in the tournament.
Besides Chugiak, Juneau's half of the bracket includes Service and Palmer. Service knocked off top-seeded Dimond in the Region IV semifinals last weekend en route to winning the regional title over Bartlett. Palmer, which for much of the season was the only undefeated team other than Juneau, lost in the Region III finals to Skyview.
Joining Skyview and Bartlett in the other state bracket are Region VI champion West Valley and Region III third-place team Homer, which last made the state tournament as a Class 3A school in 1990, when they won the title.
"Every game is different," Wagner said. "If a team is hot, it's an entirely different game than if they're not."
Wagner said she has stressed to the Crimson Bears to "play your game, and that's what we're going to do."
Neussl said no matter who they face at state, the team is concentrating on winning each match.
"Three games, that's what it is," she said.
"We're very confident and excited," Heard said. "Our whole team is totally pumped."
In Class 3A state tournament, Petersburg will open play at 10:15 a.m. Thursday against Heritage Christian, and Mount Edgecumbe will open against Cordova at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Petersburg and Cordova are two favorites to win the title.
Seward, Valdez, Grace Christian and Glennallen also are playing in the 3A tourney. It is the first-ever state tournament appearance for Glennallen.
Andrew Krueger can be reached at akrueger@juneauempire.com.