Kenai Kardinals score rare volleyball win over Colony

KENAI — Following an early-season slate of nonconference matchups against smaller schools, the Kenai Central volleyball squad had yet to prove its improvement against equal competition.

After pushing the Kodiak Bears to four games on Thursday and five on Saturday, the Kardinals were close to a breakthrough.

That breakthrough came Wednesday night on Cliff Massie Court in Kenai, when the Kards toppled the Colony Knights in four games, with scores of 25-21, 25-16, 22-25 and 25-20.

The 3-1 win gave Kenai its first Northern Lights Conference win over Colony in at least six years, and following five seasons that have seen Kenai go a combined 2-48 in conference play, the Kardinals are trending in the right direction.

“You’ve got to start somewhere, so this win is important,” said Kenai coach Tracie Beck.

Kenai improved to 1-2 in conference play and 2-2 overall outside of tournament play in 2015. Colony dropped to 0-4 in conference play this year.

“They just play really consistently, and they hit the ball hard,” said Colony coach Amy Carter. “It’s fun to play a team like this, where the ball’s gonna come back at you.”

Perhaps the biggest thing that suggests Kenai is on the rise is coach Beck’s attitude after the game. Beck said she knew she ought to be happy for the win, but instead was picking out Kenai’s mistakes and coming up with ways to improve.

“I just want them to play to the best of their ability,” Beck said.

Kenai beat Colony at an early-season tournament in August, but Wednesday represented Kenai’s first NLC win over the Knights since at least 2009.