FILLING THE VOID: Young players stepping up for NLC teams across the Valley

WASILLA — Valley teams swept the top three spots in the Northern Lights Conference Championships last season and finished among the top five squads in the 4A state volleyball championships.

Colony won a region title and finished fourth in state. Palmer was the NLC runner-up and placed fifth in the 4A tournament. Wasilla placed third in both regions and state.

That’s a lot of success for Mat-Su’s three 4A programs. But graduation hit Valley volleyball hard last spring. Colony, Palmer and Wasilla had a combined 20 seniors on their 2016 rosters.

Wasilla Warriors

Wasilla took the biggest hit, losing nine players to graduation. But Wasilla head coach Josie Cannon is intrigued about the talent she has on the 2017 roster.

“We’ve got a young squad, but have a lot of potential,” Cannon said.

Cannon said there are specific things the Warriors still need to work on, but she’s excited about what she has to work with.

“We’ve got the athletic ability and the potential,” Cannon said.

Cannon said she is looking to senior middle hitter Leanna Malak, junior middle hitter Aleks Kvalheim and junior outside hitter Cheyenne Green to lead the Warriors up front. Junior Kaitlyn Cook has stepped up to play setter, Cannon said.

“He’s very quick, has really good leadership qualities,” Cannon said.

Cannon said senior libero Delaney Breshears has been asked to fill a big defensive role for the Warriors. Cannon also noted sophomore middle hitter Kamryn Broach, another athletic talent.

Palmer Moose

The Palmer Moose lost six players to graduation, but head coach Jayme DeHart is seeing good things from her 2017 squad.

“This group is passionate and exciting to watch,” DeHart said by email earlier this week. “They can show their youth at times, but they show up every day to try and improve.”

DeHart said seniors Gina Bodnar and Mystery Showalter have both been a steady presence for the Moose. Beyond the seniors, DeHart said she has two juniors and three sophomores who are stepping into new, and prominent, roles with the team.

“All of these girls are brand new to varsity,” DeHart said of the sophomores and juniors. “and we will rely on them a lot over the course of the season.”

Colony Knights

The Colony Knights also took a hit, losing five to graduation, but the Knights return the reigning NLC North Division Player of the Year, senior middle blocker Eve Stephens.

“Eve is a talented player that also works hard and is really fun to be around,” Colony head coach Amy Carter said by email earlier this week. “Eve is so athletic and smart and she has worked and continues to improve daily.”

The Knights are currently without senior middle hitter Ella Smith, who is recovering from knee surgery, but Carter said she hopes to see Smith return by the end of the season. In the meantime, Carter said senior Aleah Yundt has stepped alongside Stephens along the front row.

“Aleah is filling in the middle blocker opposite Eve and is doing a wonderful job of learning that role. She is also playing solid defense in the back row,” Carter said.

Another key player is senior Haylee Duguid, Colony’s libero.

“Haylee is very athletic and smart, and works hard,” Carter said. “She is the core of my passing, but she is also a great backup setter.”

Carter said juniors Avery Easley and Isabel List are filling in at setter, junior Emily Link is playing defense and junior Gabby Wakaliuk is on the outside.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.