MAT-SU — The Colony Knights will storm into the Northern Lights Conference Championships with a 15-0 overall mark and a 10-0 record in NLC play.

But Knights know a perfect regular season record does not necessarily mean Colony will take a leisurely stroll through the NLC tournament bracket during the conference championships at Kenai Central High School this weekend.

“It’s regions. It’s always anyone’s game,” Colony head coach Amy Carter said.

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman Colony Knight Seirra Hodgson dives in attempt to make a save during the Knights wn over the Palmer Moose last week at Colony High School.

Colony and Soldotna (7-3 in the NLC) are the only two teams with records better than .500 in conference play, but local coaches seem to feel that is due to the parity in the conference.

“This year, it seems like a year that has the potential for being real unusual at regionals,” Palmer head coach Steve Reynolds said last week.

With its perfect mark, Colony owns the top seed of the NLC North Division and will play the South’s fourth seed, Kenai, in the first round on Thursday at 5 p.m.

Kodiak finished second in the North with a 5-5 mark and will play third-seeded Homer (4-6) at 1 p.m. on Thursday.

Palmer and Wasilla each finished tied at 4-6 in NLC play, but the Warriors will have the third seed thanks to a tiebreaker.

The Warriors, who finished 3-3 against teams within the North Division as opposed to Palmer’s 2-4 mark, will play second-seeded Skyview (5-5) at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Palmer meets the top-seeded Soldotna (7-3) at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

The championship final is slated for 5:30 on Saturday at Kenai, and the consolation final is scheduled for 3 p.m.

The top three teams from the conference tourney advance to the state championships, scheduled for Nov. 13-15 at West Anchorage High School.

Last season Palmer, Colony and Wasilla earned the NLC’s three berths to the state tourney.

NLC Championships

2008 tourney schedule

First round (Thursday): Kodiak vs. Homer, 1 p.m.; Palmer vs. Soldotna, 3 p.m.; Kenai vs. Colony, 5 p.m.; Skyview vs. Wasilla, 7 p.m.

Championship semifinals (Friday): Kodiak/Homer winner vs. Palmer/Soldotna winner, 5 p.m.; Kenai/Colony winner vs. Skyview/Wasilla winner, 7 p.m.

Championship final (Saturday): 5:30 p.m.

Consolation quarterfinals (Friday): Kodiak/Homer loser vs. Palmer/Soldotna loser, 3 p.m.; Kenai/Colony loser vs. Skyview/Wasilla loser, 7 p.m.

Consolation semifinals (Saturday): 1 p.m., 3 p.m.

Consolation final (Saturday): 3 p.m. 

Knights sweep Bears

KODIAK — The Colony Knights capped the regular season with a two-match sweep of the Kodiak Bears at Kodiak High School over the weekend.

Allie Grazulis used 14 kills to help Colony grab the 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-16) win over the Bears during the first match of the series. Sierra Hodgson added nine kills.

The following afternoon, Colony posted a 3-1 (27-25, 25-20, 17-25, 25-19) win over the Bears.  Grazulis and Kara Larson recorded 18 kills each.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.