Volleyball athletes from across the region came to Nome-Beltz to fight hard in the Arctic Pinkies tournament this weekend, but the Lady Nanooks defended their home by claiming victory.
Girls from Lathrop, Kotzebue, Bethel, and North Pole played throughout Friday in pool play to determine the teams who would play the Saturday championship. Lathrop and Nome went face to face in the Saturday championship, in which Lathrop defeated Nome. However, since this was Nome’s first loss, the team played a single extra set game to 30 points. Nome won the final set at 30, which cemented their victory.
Nome seniors Teri Ruud and Amber Gray will be going on to the All-Tournament Team. Kastyn Lie was named the MVP. The senior girls playing their last home game of the season — Kastyn Lie, Courtney Merchant, Amber Gray, Athena Hall, Abby Tozier, Erin Johanson, and Teri Ruud — were honored at a special Senior Night on Friday.
Next week, the Lady Nanooks are off to Bethel for the Bethel Tournament.
Correction: an earlier version of this story misstated the name of the team to which Teri Ruud and Amber Gray have advanced. It is the All-Tournament Team, not All-State Tournament Team. The error has been corrected. The story has also been updated to mention North Pole as the fifth team to have competed in the Arctic Pinkies Tournament.
Image at top: The Nome Lady Nanooks varsity volleyball team holds their championship trophy after the 2018 Arctic Pinkies Tournament in Nome. Back row, left to right: Assistant Coach Stephanie Stang, Terrie Rude, Abbie Tozier, Minnie Clark, Courtney Merchant, Kastyn Lie, Athena Hall, Sara Wade, Team Manager Brooke Anungazuk, and Coach Lena Danner; front: Macy Witrosky, Erin Johanson, and Amber Gray. Photo courtesy of Earl Merchant.
