Knight spikers win Juneau Invitational

JUNEAU -- The Colony Knights were down 2-0 in the championship match of the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza, but they were not out.

The Knights won the final three games of the title match to defeat the host Juneau-Douglas Bears 3-2 (26-28, 12-25, 25-11, 25-18, 15-11) in the 13th annual JIVE last week.

The Knights dropped a tight game to open the match and Juneau was able to use the momentum to score a 14-point win in the second game before Colony was able to put together its comeback.

"There was a big difference," Colony head coach Faith Scott said of the change in her team's play between the first two games and the final three games of the match. "We really stepped it up on defense."

The Knights won the third and fourth games of the match handily and broke a 11-11 tie with a 4-0 run to win the fifth game and the championship.

Scott also said that serving was a key to Colony's success.

Kristina Klapperich led the Knights with 10 kills and 11 total blocks. The senior middle blocker collected an amazing nine solo blocks in the match.

Amanda Aafedt registered 28 digs and nine kills in the match and Rochelle Ray added 25 digs and nine kills.

Colony competed in two different round-robin pools before advancing to the championship bracket.

The Knights finished 4-0 on the first day of the tournament with wins over Juneau and Petersburg and 5-1 during round-robin play the following morning.

Colony swept Glennallen and Juneau and split with Wrangell in the second series of round-robin play.

Palmer also competed in the JIVE. The Moose advanced to the championship bracket after 4-0 and 6-0 finishes in round-robin play.

Palmer scored wins over Wrangell, Sitka, Ketchikan, Petersburg and Cordova before the championship bracket.

After a bye, the Moose were defeated by Juneau 2-1 (19-25, 25-19, 10-15) in the semifinals.

Aafedt, Klapperich and Karin Dau were named to the all-tournament squad for Colony.

"Karin had absolutely the best setting in the tournament she has ever had," Scott said.

Jessie Macknicki and Jayme Irvine represented Palmer on the all-tournament

squad.