On October 11th and 12th, the Barrow and Hutchinson, as well as Dimond, High school’s JV, volleyball teams came to Nome to participate in the 2019 Arctic Pinkies Volleyball Tournament that is equal parts competition and advocacy.
KNOM’s Joe Coleman reports courtside:
The energy is high, music is blasting over the speakers, and warmups are in full swing at the Nome-Beltz high school gym. The senior night ceremony has just wrapped up, honoring Nanooks Ashleigh Minix, Brook Anungazuk, Naomi Minix, Anna Peterson, and Ellie Martinson, and the games are only minutes away. For one Nome senior though, this is more than just a game.
“One of our players, Ellie Martinson, Arctic Pinkies is named in honor of her auntie, and so it was really neat to have her be a part of the team and be the one that received the check.”
– Coach Veronica Alviso
Nome-Beltz volleyball coach Veronica Alviso says that the tournament’s fundraising for the Arctic Pinkies breast cancer awareness organization was successful.
“In the background we were selling pink volleyballs and the money that we made would be donated towards the Arctic Pinkies organization. We ended up writing a $500 check to the Arctic Pinkies, so that was exciting.
On the sports side of everything, Alviso says that the young team fought well throughout the tournament, but had trouble closing out games.
“It was a really good opportunity for us to play teams we wouldn’t normally play because we’re in the northern region, so that was good to kind of face that competition. Unfortunately, we didn’t win as many games as we would have wanted to, but I was really proud of the girls, they played competitively and, you know, they were able to kind of hang in there; the games were really close.”
Coach Alviso says that once again Nome’s primary setter was a standout performer, even with her hand wrapped.
“Clara Hanson was named part of the all-tournament team, and she’s the one that’s kind of been out – injured – for the past couple of weeks and she came back strong and she played really well – she played the net really well.”
While this year’s Arctic Pinkies tournament may not have gone as well as the Nanooks had hoped, with Dimond JV ultimately winning the tournament, they did have success continuing their October advocacy.
Image at top: Nome Nanooks volleyball team in the huddle during the 2019 Arctic Pinkies Tournament. Photo by Joe Coleman, KNOM (2019).
