The host Kenai Central volleyball team swept Sitka in nonconference action Thursday night.
The games were closer than the three straight wins would suggest, with scores of 25-23, 25-20 and 25-21. Especially in the first and second games, the scores were relatively even until the final points were scored.
Emma Beck led scoring, with 16 kills. Genesis Trevino brought seven more kills. Setter Jorgi Phillips delivered a strong performance for KCHS, with three kills, seven aces and 28 assists. Cali Holmes brought five aces. Kim Chanley led with digs, saving the ball 11 times.
Coach Tracie Beck said winning in three was the team’s goal Thursday night.
The match against Sitka was the team’s first nontournament play this year. Both Kenai and Sitka played in the Division II state tournament last season, with the Kards finishing second.
Beck said she sees a lot of great things already in place for the team, but that there’s still a lot to work on.
“So, we’re just gonna go to work and keep working on getting better every week,” she said.
Tomorrow and Saturday, Kenai will join Bethel, Homer, host Nikiski, Sitka and Barrow at the Shayna Pritchard Memorial Volleyball Tournament.
In pool play today, it’s Bethel vs. Homer at 2:30 p.m., Sitka vs. Barrow at 3:30 p.m., Kenai vs. Bethel at 4:30 p.m., Nikiski vs. Barrow at 5:30 p.m., Homer vs. Kenai at 6:30 p.m. and Nikiski vs. Sitka at 7:30 p.m.
The results of pool play will be used to seed Saturday bracket play, which begins at 9:30 a.m. The championship match is at 5 p.m.
