October 30, 2025, by Seward Folly Staff

What started as a routine travel day for the Seward Seahawk Girls Volleyball Team turned into an unexpected test of patience and quick thinking after a sudden airline outage left them and other teams stranded in Anchorage.

The Seahawks were set to fly to Bethel, Alaska, for the Slamtastic Volleyball Tournament alongside teams from Cordova and Glenallen. The players checked in for their flight on Thursday afternoon, and the news broke that Alaska Airlines had grounded all its flights due to a network-wide outage beginning around 3:30 p.m. With players and coaches scattered across the waiting area, anticipation slowly gave way to frustration as the delay stretched well past four hours. By the time word came down that their flight was officially canceled, the day was all but lost.

But the story didn’t end at the departure gate. Thinking fast, Coach Kurtz reached out to Seward High School Athletic Director Ronn Hemstock to see if the Seahawks could salvage their weekend with games at home. The invitation was extended to both Cordova and Glenallen; Cordova was able to accept, rearranging their plans to head to Seward instead.

After hours of waiting at the airport and a three-hour drive home, the Seahawks regrouped and took the court for a surprise match-up. Despite the last-minute change and long ordeal, the Seahawks delivered, winning every game by taking two out of three sets.

Pictured are #11 Jenny Fernandez, #2 Ryah Thrall, #3 Lia Shank, #12 Lily Bidnyy, #8 Mikinley Williams. Photos by Cindy Ecklund

A day that started with airport waiting rooms and uncertainty ended in victory. Sometimes, the best game isn’t always the one on the schedule.

The Seahawks will travel today to Utqiagvik for the Barrow Tournament.

Alaska News Source:

Alaska Airlines resumes flights after IT outage grounded entire fleet