newsminer.com

FAIRBANKS — Sometimes a loss feels like a win, and that was the case for Monroe Catholic against North Pole on Tuesday.

The Patriots swept the Rams 25-22, 25-13, 25-20 in non-conference volleyball action at Monroe.

“Even though we lost in three, I consider this game a big win because we played very well,” Monroe coach Mike Lessley said by telephone. “We attacked better and we passed better in serve receive.”

Leading the Rams was freshman setter Melissa Lynch.

“She just came out and played her little heart out. She did a lot of hustling and a lot of saves,” Lessley said.

Also, Katie Young was strong at the net and outside hitters Jocelyn Ribar, Jessica Stokes and Breanna Walsh performed well.

North Pole’s taller lineup excelled especially when it came to tipping the ball over Monroe’s blockers.

“They tip the ball extremely well. There’s a lot of smart ball players there,” Lessley said. “We didn’t cover the tips as well as we could have, but this game has made us a smarter team.”

The teams will meet again Monday in North Pole.

Loss ends Rams’ season

Running back Isaiah Weeks scored on a 17-yard run in the second quarter for Monroe Catholic’s only score of a 21-7 loss to host Sitka in Saturday’s nonconference regular season-ending football game.

Weeks finished with five carries for 22 yards and Brian Laurencelle, who made the point-after kick on Weeks’ touchdown, had a team-high 84 yards on 15 carries for the Rams, who ended their first varsity season at 2-6 overall.

Senior quarterback Alex Nelson rushed nine times for 23 yards and completed 2 of 6 passes for 34 yards with an interception for the Rams of the Greatland Conference. Chris Gavora intercepted Wolves quarterback Ryne Sorenson in the second quarter.

Sorenson threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Nels Svenson in the first quarter and a 25-yarder to him in the fourth, and the quarterback scored on a 10-yard run in the second quarter to snap a 7-7 tie.

Sitka, an independent program and former Greatland member, finished the year at 2-3.

Arctic Bears hockey

The Arctic Bears girls high school hockey team announced that former Alaska Nanooks player Scott Vockeroth will return for his second season as head coach in 2008-09, according to a press release.

John Garrity and Darren Kadel will be assistant coaches for the team, made of players throughout the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.

The Arctic Bears begin practice Oct. 20 and begin their season on the road against Mat-Su on Nov. 6. They play their first home game Nov. 13 against South/Bartlett. Practices and home games are at the UAF Patty Center rink.

For more information, go to the team Web site at www.arcticbearshockey.com.