Dimond Volleyball Seeks Third Title in Five Years After 33-0 Season
The undefeated Lynx face a double-elimination bracket this week, looking to defend their 4A state championship.
By Rosa Wojcik ·
Dimond High School volleyball players enter the Region IV championship tournament this week as the top seed, carrying a perfect 33-0 record against in-state opponents. The team aims to defend the 4A state title it won last year, when it navigated the double-elimination losers bracket to claim its second championship in the past five seasons.
The regular season concluded on Oct. 27 with a four-set victory over South. The match served as a test for the Lynx, who had faced minimal resistance earlier in the year. Head coach Kim Lauwers noted that the team needed such challenges to prepare for the postseason, stating that it is sometimes scary to be undefeated without being properly tested.
The team’s path to an undefeated record was not without obstacles. The Lynx lost their first four matches of the 2026 season at an out-of-state tournament, including two sweeps. Upon returning to Alaska, they won their first five home games. Since then, they have dropped only two sets in nearly two months of play against local teams.
Recent weeks brought tougher competition from Cook Inlet Conference rivals. Chugiak forced a five-set match on Oct. 16, and Colony did so the following week. In the final regular-season game, South pushed the Lynx to four sets. Junior Anayah Sila, who leads the team with 277 kills, said the players remain focused on practice and consistency because other teams will play with heightened intensity.
Senior Ailafo Fautanu, who leads the squad with 309 digs and has 266 kills, emphasized the need for humility despite the perfect record. She stated that every day is a new day for the team, and they must continue working to achieve their goals. Lauwers credits the leadership of the senior players for maintaining the team’s culture, noting that they know the coaching expectations and relay those messages to younger teammates.
The tournament utilizes a double-elimination format. The opening round takes place on Tuesday, with top seeds hosting their initial matches. The remainder of the games will be held at Service. The competition will conclude with the finals on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Dimond will host two opening-round matches. No. 8 Eagle River plays the Lynx at 7 p.m., while East and West compete at 5 p.m. South hosts its opening match against Service at 7 p.m., and Chugiak faces Bartlett at 5 p.m. The team will look to start its bracket run with a win against familiar foes.
