Knight spikers stay unbeaten

Toward the end of the first game of Colony's match with Wasilla on Tuesday night, it looked as if the Knights were going to have a difficult time protecting their unblemished record. And then the Knights got a series of key plays from a key newcomer to the squad.

With Colony down 23-22, senior middle hitter Kristina Klapperich notched three consecutive kills to give CHS a 25-23 win in the first game, and the Knights maintained the momentum to defeat the Warriors 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-19).

Klapperich, who is back in a Colony volleyball uniform after a two-year hiatus from the sport, had nine kills in the contest, but the three she collected late in the first game played the greatest role in the Colony win.

"We are still working on getting the ball to Kristina," Colony head coach Faith Scott said. "The setters aren't used to setting to someone that tall."

Colony has been know as a small, but quick, team. Other than Klapperich, who stands at 6-feet, 1-inches, the Rochelle Ray and Anna Peters are the tallest Knights hitters at 5-8.

"The team has been working so hard," Klapperich said.

Scott and Klapperich said that the team has been working in practice on the timing between Klapperich and the setters.

Klapperich added that she has had a warm reception from her teammates since she returned to the volleyball court. The senior did not play during her sophomore and junior years to focus on basketball.

"After leaving and coming back all the sudden, they have been so supportive," Klapperich said of her team.

Though the timing between Klapperich and the setters was noticeably off, the middle hitter was able to tip the ball with success.

"It does not have to be hard, it just has to be in the right place," Klapperich said.

Down 23-22 in the first, Klapperich ended a long volley by tipping the ball over the net and to the right of Wasilla hitters Carlie Douglas and Lindsey Wesser.

Klapperich repeated her move on the next play and tipped the ball to the left of the Wasilla middle hitters to score her third straight kill and help the Knights win the game.

In the second game, Colony used a 10-2 run to take a 21-15 lead. Colony and Wasilla were not separated by more than two points early in the second game and Wasilla held a two-point lead before Colony went on its run.

"Colony played well," Wasilla head coach Marge Johnson said. "We played timid."

Colony improved to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in region play.

Amanda Aafedt led the Knights with 10 kills, 18 digs and three service aces in the match.

Ray added seven kills and three aces and Karin Dau chipped in 21 assists.

Wasilla dropped to 2-1 in region competition.

Houston 3, ACS 0

The Houston Hawks scored a 3-0 (25-12, 25-13, 25-14) win over the Anchorage Christian Tigers last

Saturday.

Houston head coach Bill Sieben credited the strong serving of Cynthia Sieben, Brandy Argo and Courtney Elder with leading the Hawks to the win.

On Friday the Hawks suffered a 3-1 (18-25, 12-25, 25-20, 23-25) loss to Homer.