File photos – The Arcata Tigers clinched at least a share of this year’s Big 5 championship on Thursday night.

The Arcata Tigers clinched at least a share of the Big 5 championship in volleyball with a straight-sets win at McKinleyville on Thursday night.

In the Little 4, meanwhile, the Hoopa Warriors kept their championship hopes alive with a senior-night win over Northcoast Prep that keeps pressure on conference leaders St. Bernard’s.

One week after their big win over Del Norte, the Arcata girls capped their 2024 conference campaign with another dominating performance to improve to 7-1.

They won the match by a score of 25-17, 25-21, 25-17 to take over sole possession of top spot in the Big 5 standings for the first time in three years.

However, the Del Norte Warriors can still tie them for the title.

The Del Norte girls had a bye on Thursday and will close out conference play at Eureka on Tuesday, where a win will see them share the championship after splitting two Big 5 matches with Arcata this fall.

Quincy Collins and Pearl Smith led Arcata with eight kills each in Thursday’s win, while Kyla Kinyon added six kills and Nora Brumbaugh finished with five.

Smith also had four aces, while teammate Harper Appy had three aces as well as 28 assists.

Sophomore Eli Kanzler led a balanced defensive team performance with six digs, while Appy added five and Josie Cunningham and Aliyah Aaron had four each.

Also in the Big 5 on Thursday night, the Eureka Loggers won at Fortuna in straight sets, 25-15, 25-15, 25-14.

File photo

Tiarah Maualuga led the team in kills with 13 and also had a block, while Samara Gaither added six kills and six assists and Macy Perkins finished with six kills and five aces.

Eureka head coach Stephanie Napoleon described it as a fun game, in part because of the home crowd’s enthusiastic student section.

“Our players were feeding off Fortuna’s loud student section,” she said. “It was a really fun night of volleyball.”

Baylie Battle also impressed for the visitors and finished with 12 assists and five aces.

The Loggers will honor their four seniors — Gaither, Battle, Aimee Rogers and Giselle Salas — before their regular-season finale against Del Norte on Tuesday.

“Hopefully we can match (Thursday’s) energy at our gym on Tuesday for our last home game and senior night,” Napoleon said.

File photo – The Loggers will honor their seniors before Tuesday’s regular-season home finale.