Knights repeat; Colony wins 2nd straight NLC crown

WASILLA — The Soldotna Stars gave Colony a test. But the Knights prevailed. And Colony earned its second straight Northern Lights Conference title.

The Knights held on to earn a 3-2 (25-23, 10-25, 25-15, 16-25, 15-11) win over the Stars in the NLC championship match Saturday afternoon in Kodiak.

Eve Stephens led the Knights with 14 kills, six digs, and six blocks during the championship match. Isabel List added a dozen kills, 18 assists and six digs. Gabby Wakaliuk collected eight kills and four blocks.

Colony entered the NLC tournament as the top seed with a 9-1 regular season record. The Knights earned a trip to the title game with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 25-17) victory over Wasilla Friday during the semifinals.

Stephens had 12 kills and six blocks. Haylee Duguid finished with 11 digs.

Soldotna needed a 3-1 (18-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-17) over Wasilla Friday morning to bounce back into the final. It marked the second time the NLC rivals met during the tournament.

Emily Cizek led the Warriors with 22 digs during the loss to the Stars.

Wasilla beat Soldotna 3-1 (25-14, 25-15, 22-25, 25-18) Thursday evening.

Colony, Soldotna and Wasilla clinched the NLC’s three bids to the Division I state tournament, which starts Thursday at West Anchorage High School.

Wasilla opens state tournament play against Bartlett, the Cook Inlet Conference champion, at 10 a.m. Colony meets defending state champion Dimond, the No. 3 seed from the CIC, at 1:30 p.m.

Winners of each match will move forward and play Thursday evening. In other first-round matches, Soldotna faces Southeast Conference champion Juneau-Douglas at 11:45 a.m. Mid-Alaska champ West Valley meets CIC runner-up East Anchorage at 3:15 p.m.

The Knights swept the conference’s major awards at the NLC meet. Stephens, Colony’s senior middle hitter, was named the NLC Player of the Year. Colony’s Amy Carter earned NLC Coach of the Year honors. Stephens was one of three Colony players to be named first-team all-conference. Isabel List and Haylee Duguid joined Stephens on that list. Wasilla’s Kamryn Broach, Kaitlyn Cook and Emily Cizek, and Palmer’s Mystery Showalter were also named the to first team.

Palmer’s Gina Bodner and Kristen Beames, and Wasilla’s Aleks Kvalheim earned second-team honors.

Palmer’s season came to an end Friday evening. The Moose opened their day with a 3-1 (25-10, 24-26, 25-13, 25-7) victory over Kenai in an elimination match. Late Friday, Soldotna eliminated Palmer with a 3-1 (20-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-18) victory over the Moose.

Deanna McNutt led Palmer with eight kills against the Kards. Gina Bodner finished with seven digs against the Stars. Mystery Showalter collected 15 digs against SoHi.

Leanna Malak posted 10 kills and 11 digs to lead Wasilla during the loss to Colony. Emily Cizek collected a team-high 17 digs. Kaitlyn Cook added 31 assists and 10 digs.

Colony, Wasilla and Palmer each earned a victory during the opening day of the tournement on Thursday.

Second-seeded Wasilla capped the opening day of the tourney with a 3-1 (25-14, 25-15, 22-25, 25-18) win over third-seeded Soldotna. Earlier in the evening, top-seeded Colony swept fourth-seeded Palmer (25-21, 25-19, 25-20).

Cook recorded six of Wasilla’s 10 aces in the match to help the Warriors get by Soldotna. Cook added 37 assists and nine digs in the win. Cheyenne Green led Wasilla with a dozen kills. Malak added a team-high 18 digs.

Palmer opened the day Thursday with a 3-2 (25-20, 18-25, 25-22, 18-25, 15-11) win over host Kodiak. Kristen Beames and Kelsey Giese collected 11 kills each. Hannah Decker added nine kills. Mystery Showalter led Palmer with 18 digs.

Soldotna beat Kenai in the other early match.

Hawks, Huskies fall in Southcentral tourney

The Houston Hawks and Redington Huskies each finished 0-2 during the Southcentral Conference Championships in Homer.

Fifth-seeded Anchorage Christian upset Houston 3-1 (25-19, 25-13, 21-25, 25-19) in the first round. Second-seeded Seward eliminated the Hawks with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-22) win.

Seward also beat seventh-seeded Redington 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-8) in the first round. Host Homer eliminated Redington with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-19) victory over the Huskies.

Third-seeded Grace Christian upset both Seward and top-seeded Nikiski en route to the conference title.

A pair of Hawks landed on the Southcentral’s all-conference list. Juniors Audrey Giddings and Lexi Rau were both named first-team. Redington’s Taylor Ryan and Harley Lytle were named second-team all-conference.