Knights put up tough fight in loss to Moose

PALMER — During the Valley rivals’ first match of the season in September, Palmer earned a fairly fast three-game sweep of Colony. But things were a little different Wednesday.

Palmer did earn the win, but not without a fight from the Knights.

Palmer needed to overcome an nine-point deficit and deny Colony’s three opportunities serving for game-point to win a marathon fourth set and score a 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-13, 30-28) win over the Knights at Colony High.

“It was a good turnaround,” Palmer head coach Steve Reynolds said. “Early in the match, I kind of criticized them — not necessarily for giving up on plays — but maybe expecting the ball to go down easily on Colony early in the match. It didn’t. Colony played a great match.”

Palmer (6-1) and Colony (3-4) traded wins during the first two sets, and after a Moose win during Game 3, the Knights looked to be en route to forcing a fifth game.

Colony took an early 4-1 lead in the fourth game, and after Palmer cut the score to 7-6, senior Allison Leigh sparked a 10-2 Colony run.

Leigh, who led the Knights with 21 kills and 10 blocks in the loss, posted four kills and a block during the run.

Colony managed to stretch its lead to 17-9, its biggest advantage of the game, but the Moose followed by steadily chipping away at the Knights.

Palmer wasn’t able to put together anything larger than a four-point run, but did enough to use a Malena Showalter ace to tie the score at 22.

Leigh gave Colony its first chance to serve for game point with a kill, but Palmer’s Elliot Perkins posted a kill to tie the game at 24.

Colony, again, served for game point with a 26-25 lead. And again, Palmer tied the score. Sophomore Mariah McNamara knocked down a ball inside the left baseline to knot the score at 26. McNamara spoiled a third Colony chance at match point with a kill off the Colony block.

Palmer sealed the decisive fourth game with a Brecken Riekena kill.

McNamara led the Moose with 21 kills and 14 digs in the match.

“She’s a sophomore, but she doesn’t play young,” Reynolds said of McNamara. “Her hitting was great tonight, and her serving can always be counted on. Defense, too. She got a lot of digs. She played a great match tonight.”

Reynolds also noted Kalei DePriest, who posted 11 kills and six blocks for Palmer. Macey Buresh added 44 assists.

Despite the loss, the Knights continue to impress Colony head coach Amy Carter.

“They’re definitely getting better,” Carter said of the Knights, who are 3-4 in Northern Lights Conference play. “They’re definitely playing strong.”

Leigh was her typical self, with match-highs in kills (21) and blocks (10). But Carter is also pleased with the overall improvement of production from Colony’s supporting cast.

Brooke Deans and Ashley Turcotte collected six kills each, and Brooke Nezaticky added four. Deans led Colony with 14 digs, while Chelsea Friesen had 12 and Maryann Zmuda pitched in 10.

Zmuda led Colony with 25 assists.

Carter said she continues to see improvement in her other hitters, especially during those times Leigh is off the floor.

“Ashley, Brooke (Deans) and Brooke (Nezaticky), and Zoe have really stepped up,” Carter said.

Both teams have three matches remaining in NLC regular-season play. Palmer is in Kodiak to face the Bears tonight and Saturday. The Moose also face Wasilla Thursday.

Colony is at Wasilla Tuesday and caps the regular season with a two-match homestand against Kodiak next week.

Wasilla sweeps Kenai

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors earned a 3-0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-11) sweep of Kenai at Wasilla High School last Saturday.

Cassidy Edwards and Machia Toews led the Warriors with eight kills each.

Peyton Moble had four aces for Wasilla.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com, follow him @matsu_sports and find him by searching Valley Sports Huddle on Facebook.