The Shoreline Dolphins Volleyball team concluded an exciting season that included a North Region championship and a 5th place finish at the NWAC tournament. The Phins ended their season with a 28-12 overall record and a 10-2 record in the North Region. The Phins finished the season ranked #6 in the final NWAC Alaska Airlines Coaches Poll.
The Phins had a great run through the NWAC tournament. On the opening day they defeated Pierce in a tight 3-1 victory. The Phins dropped the first set 21-25 and then went onto win the next three sets by scores of 25-23, 25-21, 25-22. In their second match of the tournament on the second day the Phins lost to Walla Walla (25-27, 22-25, 25-19, 23-25). The loss meant Shoreline would have to battle back through the losers’ bracket to have a chance at placing. And, battle back they did. The Phins first took on North Region rival Olympic and again came back to get the victory. Shoreline dropped the first of the best of 3 set 23-25, but came back to win the next two 26-24 and 15-7.
On the third day of the tourney the Phins would need to win 4 straight matches to reach the finals. Their first match of the day was a straight set victory over Highline by a score of 25-21 and 25-18. Next the ladies took on Tacoma and won the first set 25-21. Tacoma would tie the match with a 25-21 set victory of their own. In the 3rd and deciding set the Phins took a commanding 14-11 lead after trailing early in the set. Unfortunately the Phins could not get their final point to close out the match and lost 14-16.
The Phins had a number of great individual performances throughout their 5 match run in the tournament. Kristina Nielsen finished 5th in the tourney in Hitting Percentage at .289, 15th in Kills per game with 3.06 and 10th in Blocks per game with .88. Anya Golubitskikh finished 10th with 3.44 Kills per game. Setter Carlie Howrad finished 4th overall with 9.38 Assists per game in the tourney. taylor Alexander led the whole tournament with 14 Service Aces as well as .88 per game and finished 15th in Digs with 4 per game. A’Laisia Redden finished 10th overall with 4.44 Digs per game.
Congratulations to the Phins on an exciting and successful season.
