AFNORTH’s Grete Klessman tries to get the ball over the net Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in a DODEA-Europe girls volleyball match against Spangdahlem at RAF Alconbury, England, while Spangdahlem’s Aliya Taylor goes for the block and Emily Castano watches the ball. (Devin Klecan/Stars and Stripes)
RAF ALCONBURY, England – One team entered the weekend with a perfect record. Another had won half its matches this season. And a third hadn’t won so far.
And that’s the way it played out after two days of DODEA-Europe Division III volleyball play at Alconbury.
Spangdahlem improved to 8-0 on the season by defeating both visiting AFNORTH and the host Dragons. The Lions remained at .500 on the season after getting a split. And Alconbury is still looking for victory No. 1.
The Sentinels swept the Lions in the first match Saturday, winning 25-19, 25-17, 25-9. It was the second three-set win for Spangdahlem over AFNORTH (4-4) this season.
The Lions had opened the weekend with a 25-23, 17-25, 25-21, 11-25, 15-12 win over Alconbury on Friday.
AFNORTH’s team this year consists of nine international players and three Americans.
“I played volleyball in Estonia in another club,” said Grete Klessman, a sophomore setter. “My mom wanted me to pick up volleyball, and so I kept going. I joined this team when we moved to the Netherlands. I like getting myself out there.”
After dispatching the Lions, the Sentinels soon went to work again.
Spangdahlem came out victorious, 25-10, 25-15, 25-15.
Alconbury (0-6) travels to Hohenfels for a four-team matchup next weekend, while Spangdahlem hosts Brussels and defending champion Ansbach and AFNORTH gets the weekend off.
Alconbury’s Harper Bell tips the ball over into Spangdahlem’s side of the net despite Aliya Taylor’s best effort in a DODEA-Europe girls volleyball match Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at RAF Alconbury, England. (Devin Klecan/Stars and Stripes)
Spangdahlem’s Emily Castano looks to keep the ball in play during a DODEA-Europe girls volleyball match against Alconbury on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at RAF Alconbury, England. Alconbury’s Rachel Hiles and Harper Bell make sure it doesn’t drop on their side. (Devin Klecan/Stars and Stripes)
Emily Castano sends the ball back over her head to Aliya Taylor, left, as Summer Mundy watches during a DODEA-Europe girls volleyball match Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at RAF Alconbury, England. Alconbury’s Iyawna Jones, from left, Rachel Hiles and Lillian Payton wait for it on the other side. (Devin Klecan/Stars and Stripes)
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