Monroe Catholic, South Anchorage Win Opening Matches
Both Anchorage-area teams took three-set-plus wins in the first round of the 3A/4A state volleyball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Volleyball
Monroe Catholic defeated Sitka 3-1 in the 3A first round, and South Anchorage defeated Soldotna 3-1 in the 4A first round at the 2026 ASAA 3A/4A State Volleyball Tournament. Both matches were played Thursday in Anchorage.
Why it matters
The wins keep both programs alive in the double-elimination bracket, which means each team must win again to avoid being eliminated. For Alaska volleyball fans, the results set up the next rounds of a statewide championship event.
Both teams won their first-round matches 3-1, with Monroe Catholic and South Anchorage each taking three of four sets. Both lost their second-round matches 3-1 to Homer and Colony, respectively, and the consolation bracket results remain to be played.
The players
Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA)
The ASAA is the statewide body that governs high school athletic and activity competition in Alaska, including the state volleyball championship.
The details
Monroe Catholic took the first set, lost the second, then won the third and fourth to close out Sitka. South Anchorage dropped the opening set before winning the next three to defeat Soldotna. Rory Morgan earned Player of the Game honors for Monroe Catholic, and Jessica Gieser received the same award for South Anchorage.
Timeline
Thursday, November 12, 2026: First-round matches, including Monroe Catholic and South Anchorage wins, were played.
Friday, November 13, 2026: Consolation and winners bracket matches begin at 10 a.m.
Season Trajectory
Under the ASAA double-elimination format used at the Alaska Airlines Center, a single loss drops a team into the consolation bracket, so both Monroe Catholic and South Anchorage now must win consecutive matches to keep their state title hopes alive. Their second-round losses to Homer and Colony put both programs in the same position of needing a long run to reach the championship.
Fans planning to attend can follow the bracket as consolation matches resume Friday morning at the Alaska Airlines Center, where the remaining 3A and 4A results will determine which teams advance toward the championship. Anyone tracking the tournament should check the bracket before each session, since a single loss moves a team into the consolation side.
The takeaway
Both programs now face a must-win path in the consolation bracket, and early-round results show how quickly a single loss can shift a team's tournament outlook. Following each match closely will show which teams can keep their state title hopes alive.
What happens next
Consolation and winners bracket matches continue Friday, November 13, 2026, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center.
Further reading
For more on the state's high school competition, see Volleyball coverage across Alaska.
