Volleyball seniors say goodbye

The Juneau-Douglas High School Crimson Bears and the Thunder Mountain High School Falcons will hope to put a scare in their respective opponents this weekend.

More specifically the Falcons will host the Crimson Bears with a bag of tricks tomorrow night and JDHS will return the favor with some spooky play on Saturday.

Both nights will be senior appreciation for the home team.

JDHS seniors are Maddie McKeown, Tona Fogg, Kallen Hoover, Martina Worden, Soana Kelepi and Ashlee Mabute.

According to coach Lesslie Knight, the Crimson Bears tied for 7th at last weekend’s Dimond Service tournament.

“We were excited to have made it to the go bracket,” Knight said. “We lost to Soldotna 14-16 in a game three to go to the losers bracket and were knocked out by West.”

McKeown, a middle hitter, was selected to the all tourney team. She spent her off-season practicing in Anchorage and that commitment has made her the Crimson Bears leading scorer this season with 562 points.

“She accounts for more than a third of our scoring,” Knight said.

Setter and defensive specialist Fogg is considered by Knight as the team’s scrappiest player and when she is placed at setter the team loses her spectacular defensive plays.

Outside hitter Hoover has worked extremely hard to become a dependable all-around player for the Crimson Bears and leads JDHS with 429 passes and 285 digs.

“Her defense has come a long way,” Knight said.

Outside hitter Worden is also a member of the Juneau Jumpers and has taken that leaping and cross training skill to the front row.

“She has transitioned from the Libero position to an outside hitter,” Knight said. “For a short gal she has a great reach.”

Middle hitter Kelepi has been a solid part of the program.

“Every year she tries to transfer to TM but we all know she bleeds red and black,” Knight said. “We are excited to have her with us for regions this year.”

Mabute returns to the court after a two-year absence and is a scrappy “little” player that plays with a lot of heart according to Knight.

TMHS seniors are Maya Haywood, Harriet Martin, Tracy Bourassa, Abby De Rocher, Sara Wood, Kelley Olson, Madison Polley, Makayla Harp, Jamie Yaletchko and Dream Edgar. The Falcons played in the All-Comers tourney last weekend, won by Petersburg.

“It is going to be hard to say goodbye to this group of girls,” TMHS coach Arnold Ibias said. “We’ve been through a lot this season and finding ways for all the personalities to mesh together has been what has actually bonded the team. I am proud of the seniors for being leaders on and off the court. I am excited to see where life takes them.”

Middle blocker Haywood has become an all-around player across the net.

“She has stepped up her game,” Ibias said. “More importantly her consistency is what is helping us get better each week.”

Martin, a setter, has been recently sidelined due to injury and will miss the remainder of the season. Not only was she a defensive gem but also a top server.

Defensive specialist and outside hitter Bourassa has always been a hustler on the court.

“This season she has refined her game to understand the angles of the game to read hitters,” Ibias said. “She has made her back row attack a weapon.”

Defensive specialist and outside hitter De Rocher has cranked up her hitting game this year.

“I never know what hit she is going to bring to the table,” Ibias said. “Fortunately for us neither does the defense.”

Wood, another defensive specialist and outside hitter, is the team’s fitness guru.

“She is often overlooked as an offensive threat,” Ibias said. “At 5-foot teams don’t realize the power she can bring.”

Olson has also been sidelined for the rest of the season with an injury.

“It is a bummer because she was coming into her own as a solid front row player,” Ibias said.

Outside hitter Polley is a 4-year player that show what commitment is all about, working from the C-team to varsity.

“She hasn’t seen a lot of floor time this season,” Ibias said. “But I know she will be ready when I need her.”

Harp plays the Opposite position, usually a taller and powerful hitter that plays opposite the setter. She is a first-year player that has worked her way from junior varsity to a varsity spot.

“She has elevated her game by working hard to get better,” Ibias said. “I just wish she would have started three years ago.”

Yaletchko played her freshman and this senior year and has developed into a leader on the court according to Ibias.

Edgar transferred from Washington but was injured in the first matches of the season.

“It was too bad because the girl can really play,” Ibias said.

TMHS will host JDHS at 8 p.m. tomorrow night. The Falcons senior appreciation will be prior to the game.

JDHS will host TM on Saturday at JD gym. The Crimson Bears senior appreciation will be before the varsity game.