The Nikolaevsk volleyball team took fourth place at the Mix Six state tournament Saturday at Dimond High School in Anchorage.
Elizabeth Fefelov and Zachary Trail were named to the all-tournament team for the Warriors, while Fefelov also was named the best setter of the tournament. Nikolaevsk also won the sportsmanship award at the tournament.
The Warriors were eliminated from the tourney with a Saturday morning loss to Gustavus, dropping a 28-26, 16-25 and 15-9 decision. Nikolaevsk had defeated Gustavus on Thursday, but coach Bea Klaich said her squad did not bring enough energy to the match, which started at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Friday, Nikolaevsk lost to Tanalian 25-11, 20-25, 25-18, 24-26 and 15-12 to fall into the second-chance bracket. The Warriors stayed alive Friday evening with a 25-23 and 26-24 victory over Buckland.
Nikolaevsk, which has a best of runner-up at state, has been in the big event for seven straight years. Klaich said the competition is getting better and better, as evidenced by the close scores.
“There wasn’t anything easy,” Klaich said. “I told my kids at the beginning of state that nothing is going to come easy. Every year the competition gets better.”
Klaich said her squad of 12 loses six seniors, including four who received regular playing time. Those four were Fefelov, Trail, Emilee Gerasimof and Markiana Yakunin.
