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Barrow spikers test best at state tournament

November 19th 12:52 am | Van Williams Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

It looked like an upset special.

The Barrow High School volleyball team had No. 1-ranked Grace Christian of Anchorage on the ropes in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament in Wasilla.

The Lady Whalers won the first set in the best-of-5 match and forced overtime in the second set. They were two points away from taking a commanding two-sets-to-none lead on the defending state champs.

But it never happened.

Grace Christian pulled it together and pulled out a four-set victory, winning 25-20, 28-26, 25-10, 25-21 to advance to the semifinals and eventually the finals.

"Grace being the better team, they didn't panic," said longtime Barrow coach Seeseei Pili. "But I know they were surprised."

They weren't the only ones.

It would have been one of the biggest upsets in the history of the 3A tournament.

Nonetheless, the Whalers played like champions and made their coach proud.

"This group of girls, for me, they totally came together when they needed to," said Pili, who has led the Barrow volleyball team to state in 13 of her 14 seasons. "This is the first year they played together. Other teams are usually playing year-round or have been playing together since middle school."

Barrow quailed for state on the last day of the Western Conference regional tournament, beating Nome in four sets to avenge a loss to the Lady Nanooks a day earlier.

People probably didn't give the Whalers much of a chance against Grace Christian.

They met in the first match of the day and the Lady Grizzlies appeared to be sleepwalking while the Whalers were bright eyed.

They won the first set 25-20 and went point for point in the second set. The score was tied at 24, 25, 26. And then wham bam, just like that, Grace won two points and claimed the win to even the match at one set apiece.

"The second set should have been ours," Pili said. "But it's those little things. Grace is a very good team. They are ranked No. 1 in the state. For the girls to go out and win the first set and then lose 28-26, it could have gone either way."

In the consolation bracket, Barrow dropped a 25-20, 25-16, 25-5 decision to Petersburg to finish in a tie for seventh place.

Naturally, the Whalers experienced a little bit of a letdown after coming so close against Grace Christian. It's to be expected.

"They kind of went back to their old ways, forgetting how much they have actually come along this season," Pili said. "I am very proud of these girls. They've found themselves. They found a rhythm.

"It's good that they clicked at the end of the season. I tell the girls, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. They ended it pretty strong considering the ups and downs we've had throughout the season."

The Whalers will lose only two seniors in Jalene Kanayurak and Trina Brower and return a slew of key returning players such as Hilary Lowery, Paige Bowen, Lynette Hepa and Angela Miguel.

In Barrow, they don't rebuild, they reload.

"I'm looking forward to next year," Pili said.

 

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