Moose earn decisive sweep of rival Knights

PALMER — Since it took five games to decide the last match between the Palmer Moose and Colony Knights, few thought Tuesday’s match between the two Mat-Su Valley rivals would be decided in three.

But on Tuesday, Palmer used a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-19) sweep of the Knights to win the annual Cabbage Bowl at Palmer High School.

“We were very evenly matched and it was quite a surprise that the game did not go to five,” Palmer head coach Steve Reynolds said after the win. “Last time it went to five and we expected that to happen again.”

The combination of the Palmer offense and the number of Colony errors proved to be a difference in the Cabbage Bowl, an annual match that helps pay tribute to the volleyball rivalry between the two Palmer area schools.

“Palmer played really well and came in ready to go,” Colony head coach Amy Carter said.

The first game was close as the Knights’ senior Shellina Irwin had three of her eight total kills. The score was close until the end as Palmer finished strong wining 25-18.

The second game belonged all to the Moose. Colony started hot but soon found themselves down 20-7 before they called a timeout. Colony had a late rally to close the gap, but it was a little too late as Palmer held on to win 25-15.

Senior Nicole Cherrier led the Moose offense with ten kills and four aces.

“The ladies did well,” Reynolds said. “It was a great performance.”

In the most contested game of the match, the third and final game, the score went back and forth until the Moose pulled away late for a 25-19 win.

Carter said she felt Colony played well, but never seemed to be able to finish off a game or capitalize on a momentum swing.

Both teams play this Friday as Skyview hosts Palmer and Kodiak hosts Colony.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Lanier Hutcheson at lanier.hutcheson@frontiersman.com.