Hometown Heroes: Sakis ranked among JUCO volleyball statistic leaders

In just her first season of collegiate volleyball, Emily Sakis has been a major impact for a major junior college squad.

Sakis, a freshman and 2003 graduate of Palmer High School, has been a big part of the success of Northeastern Junior College this season. The Sterling, Colo.-based school is 29-4 and at the top of the Region IX standings.

Originally brought on to play middle hitter, Sakis has made the move to the right outside hitter position with a smooth transition. Sakis' .321 hitting position currently ranks her fourth in a JUCO region that is known for producing Division I-caliber players.

Sakis has 209 kills this season and just 64 errors. Her 1.01 blocks per game rank her 17th in the region and she is 24th in the region with 2.45 kills per game.

Sakis helped lead the Palmer Moose spikers to a third-place finish in the state tournament last season. Sakis was also named the Region III player of the year after her senior campaign.

Football:

Cole Magner (Colony 2001) is in his junior season with the Division I Bowling Green State (Ohio) Falcons. Magner caught six passes for 66 yards in BG's 23-3 win over Central Michigan last week. Magner currently leads the Falcons with 35 catches for 511 yards and five touchdowns. The Falcons played at Western Michigan yesterday … James Watts (Wasilla 2001) is in his sophomore season with Western Oregon University. WOU is 2-3 this season after suffering a 17-10 loss to Southern Utah last week … Justin Buzby (Wasilla 2000) is in his junior season with the University of Minnesota-Crookston. Buzby registered 12 total tackles in Crookston's 49-14 win over Southwest Minnesota State last week. Buzby has 46 tackles this season … John Fillman (Colony 2001) is a junior defensive lineman with UMC. Fillman recorded five total tackles against UMM. Fillman has started each of Crookston's six games and has 23 total tackles this season … Jake DeBuck (Colony 2003) is a redshirt freshman tight end with UMC … James Winter (Colony 2001) is in his sophomore season with Minnesota State-Moorehead. The 5-8, 258 pounder has started all four games for the 1-4 Dragons. Winter has 12 total tackles this season. Winter had four total tackles in the Dragons' 23-15 loss to Bemidji State. Winter is also a heavyweight on the Dragon wrestling team … Ali Larijani (Palmer 2003) is in his first season with Valley City State University (ND). VCSU defeated Huron University 34-20 last week. Larijani plays linebacker … Sam Widmer (Wasilla 2003) is in his first season with the University of Mary (S.D.). UM is 3-1 after a 31-21 loss to Dickinson State last week. Widmer plays linebacker … Cory Creighton (Colony 2000) is a wide receiver and kick returner for the University of Montana-Western. Creighton caught two passes for 37 yards in Western's 55-31 win over Rocky Mountain College last week. Western is 3-3 this season.

Volleyball:

Emily Sakis (Palmer 2003) is in her first season with Northeastern Junior College. Sakis is an outside hitter on the right side for the Colorado team. NJC is 29-4 and the top team in Region IX of the NJCAA. Sakis' .321 hitting percentage ranks her fourth in the region. She has 209 kills and only 64 errors. Sakis is 17th in the region with 1.01 blocks per game and 24th with 2.45 kills per game … Brianna Johnson (Palmer 2003) is in her first year with Wartburg College. Johnson is currently on the Iowa school's junior varsity team … Diana Gordon (Palmer 2000), formerly Diana West, is now a member of the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Gordon transferred from BYU-Hawaii. Gordon has appeared in 10 games this season, averaging 1.40 digs per game … Lisa Thomas (Palmer 2001) is in her junior season with Portland State University. Thomas has 89 kills and a team-high 53 blocks for the 9-5 Vikings this season. Thomas had eight kills and three total blocks in a 3-0 loss to Weber State, Oct. 4 … Leisa Rosen (Wasilla) is in her fourth season as an assistant coach for the University of Michigan … Stefanie Farris (Wasilla 2002) is a sophomore outside hitter for the Citadel. Faris has 106 kills and 97 digs this season. Faris registered 10 kills and eight digs in a 3-2 win over South Carolina State, Oct. 6.

Basketball:

Ray Schafer (Wasilla 2003) enters his first season with the University of Oregon. Schafer and the Ducks begin practice this month and start their season with an exhibition game Nov. 9 … Marsha Schirack (Wasilla 2003) is about to begin her freshman campaign with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The Nanooks begin practice on Oct. 13 and their season opener is Nov. 14 in Fairbanks against Christian Heritage … Zac Forsythe (Palmer 2002) is a sophomore with UAF. Forsythe and the Nanooks begin practice on Oct. 13 and tip off their season Nov. 6 against Southwestern College … Amber Magner (Palmer 1992) is in her third season as head coach of California State University-Monterey Bay women's basketball squad … Leah Magner (Colony 1999) is an assistant coach for the CSUMB women's basketball squad … Jessica Moore (Colony 2001) is now a junior with the University of Connecticut. Moore and the Huskies will start practice later this month and begin defense of their national championship Nov. 23 against Western Michigan … Sarah Bergeron (Palmer 2002) is a sophomore for Southwestern Oregon Community College. Bergeron and her squad begins practice this month and will start their season with a scrimmage on Oct. 25 … Amy Chapman (Palmer 2003), Toni Cox (Palmer 2003) and Melissa Mayne (Wasilla 2003) are freshman for Southwestern Oregon CC … Buddy Bailey (Wasilla 2003) will make his California Baptist debut Nov. 7 against Northwest College.

Cross-country running:

Eric Strabel (Colony 2000) enters his senior season with UAA. Strabel placed 21st at the Bronco Invite in Chico, Calif. last week. The Seawolf boys finished second in the team standings. UAA participated in the Western Washington Invite yesterday … Aaron Dickson (Palmer 2003) and Drew Dickson (Palmer 2003) are freshmen with the Seawolves. Aaron Dickson finished 11th in the Bronco Invite and Drew finished 12th … Sarah Hanson (Colony 2001) is a junior with UAA. Hanson finished 15th in the Bronco Invite, leading the UAA girls to a second place finish in the team standings … Domonique Colberg (Colony 2003) is a freshman with the University of Montana. Colberg finished first in her first collegiate race, the InterSquad University of Montana Open. Colberg beat her fellow Grizzlies with a time of 17:51 in the 5-kilometer race. UM competes in the Minnesota Invitational this weekend … Diana Heimerl (Colony 2001) is a junior with Alaska Fairbanks. Heimerl finished second in the UAF Invitational, earlier this month, with a time of 19:55 … Renae Moore (Susitna Valley 2002) is a sophomore with UAF … Pat Egelus (Palmer 2000) is a senior with Eastern Oregon University. EOU is currently the top-ranked NAIA running team in the nation. Egelus finished seventh in the University of Portland Invite Sept. 12 with a time of 20:32.

Swimming:

Dirk Craft (Palmer 2000) is in his junior season with the University of South Dakota. Craft helped lead USD to a ninth-place finish last season in the Division II swimming and diving championships. The swimming season starts Oct. 10.

Hockey:

Kerry Weiland (Palmer 1999) was named to the Team USA select women's hockey squad recently. Weiland and Team USA will compete in the Four Nations Cup, Nov. 5-9 in Skovde, Sweden. The team will open Nov. 5 against Finland. Weiland also helped lead Team USA to a 2-1 overtime win over Team Canada in the FIRS Women's World Hockey Inline Championships earlier this summer. Weiland has just been named to the U.S. select women's ice hockey team that will compete in the Four Nations Cup in Sweden in November … Shane Saum (Palmer) is a senior with the Air Force Academy. Saum will return to Alaska when his squad participates in the NYE Frontier Classic, Oct. 17-18 at the Sullivan Arena. Air Force will take on UAA, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. … Nathan Schwartzbauer (Colony 2000) is a freshman for Bemidji State. The Beavers opened play Oct. 10 against Concordia-Montreal … Jake Luthi (Colony 2002) is a freshman for Rensselear Polytechnic Institute. The Engineers began their season Oct. 11 at Boston University … Jake Williams (Houston 2003) has made the Dubuque Thunderbird junior hockey squad. The Thunderbirds play in the Minnesotta Junior Hockey League. Williams is a forward. Williams has one penalty, for two minutes for the 3-1 'Birds … Jamie Bennett (Houston 2003) is also in his first year with Dubuque. Bennett will play on the blueline. Bennett has five penalties for 13 minutes this season. Dubuque is off until Oct. 18.

Golf:

Travis Parker (Colony 2003) has made the South Mountain Community College men's golf squad. Parker will begin swinging the clubs for the Phoenix, Ariz.-based school in early 2004.

Soccer:

Jon Kaster (Palmer 2002) is in his first season as a midfielder for Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif. … Lynda Bowers (Palmer 1994) has started her first year as the head coach of the University of Southern Illinois- Edwardsville. Bowers and the Cougars are 7-3 … Kristin Covalt (Palmer 2000) is a senior goaltender for SIU- Edwardsville. Covalt is 2-2 with a 0.86 goals against average and a .848 saves percentage in six games this season … Eric Lund (Colony) is in his senior season with George Washington. Lund is a goalkeeper for GW. The Colonials have got off to a rough start this season, now at 4-7 … Thomas Kelly (Matanuska Christian 2002) is a starting forward for Peninsula College (WA). Kelly scored in his team's 2-1 loss to Tacoma Community College.

Baseball:

Andy Walker (Wasilla 2001) will begin his sophomore season with the University of Minnesota-Morris in the spring. Walker is a catcher … Brian Weller (Palmer 2002) is a redshirt freshman catcher

with Bemidji State

University.