Dimond volleyball starts Region IV with 33-0 record

The Dimond High School volleyball team will begin its regional tournament on Tuesday with a 33-0 record against in-state opponents. The Lynx, the top seed in Region IV, host No. 8 Eagle River at 7 p.m. in the opening round of the double-elimination bracket. They will compete in the tournament this week to determine the region's representative for the state championship.

The team has not lost a match to an Alaska rival since capturing the 4A state title last season. That previous victory required a run through the double-elimination losers' bracket. This year, the Lynx secured 33 wins during the regular season, losing only four sets in the final two months of competition. Their last regular season match on Oct. 27 was a four-set victory over South, which coach Kim Lauwers described as a necessary challenge to prepare the squad for the postseason.

Lauwers noted that the team was tested late in the season by Cook Inlet Conference rivals. Chugiak forced a five-set match on Oct. 16, marking the first time an in-state opponent pushed Dimond to that extent. A week later, Colony rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force another full five-set contest. These matches provided the team with experience in coming back from deficits, a skill Lauwers believes is essential for the upcoming tournament.

Junior captain Anayah Sila and senior captain Ailafo Fautanu lead the roster. Sila finished the regular season with 277 kills and 308 digs. Fautanu recorded 266 kills and leads the team with 309 digs. Both players serve as six-rotation members who rarely leave the court. Lauwers credits these upperclassmen with maintaining team culture and relaying coaching expectations to younger players, a depth of leadership the team lacked during its previous title run.

The team's confidence was tempered by a rough start to the 2026 season. The Lynx lost their first four matches at an out-of-state tournament, including two sweep losses. The experience helped them refine their serving and serve-receive skills. Upon returning to Alaska, they swept their next five opponents and lost only two sets over the following two months. Sila said the travel helped the team understand the speed of play outside the state, which they applied to their home schedule.

Region IV play concludes on Saturday with the finals at 7 p.m. The bracket includes other top contenders such as Chugiak and South. Lauwers emphasized that the team must refocus on each individual match rather than dwelling on their undefeated status. The players view the recent close calls in the regular season as a preview of the challenges they will face in the region. The tournament format allows for one loss before elimination, meaning every match carries weight for the remaining teams.

Dimond enters the tournament as the favorite, but the double-elimination structure creates a path for lower-seeded teams to advance. The Lynx will play their first match against Eagle River. Other opening round games are scheduled for Tuesday, with East and West playing at Dimond at 5 p.m., and Service and South meeting at 7 p.m. at South. The remainder of the opening round games will take place at Service. The team aims to continue its dominant run while managing the pressure of being the top seed in the region.