Moose earn tough sweep

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

WASILLA - The Palmer Moose have found themselves in a lot of close games lately. Not necessarily close matches, but close games.

Fortunately for the Moose, they are getting a knack for winning those close games.

Palmer used its experience in tight games to earn a 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 27-25) win over a young Wasilla Warrior squad at Wasilla High School on Tuesday.

&#8220When we get close like that, we do a lot better than most teams,” Palmer senior Britany Vaughan said. &#8220We keep it cool - don't really get stressed.”

Palmer found itself behind in the final two games of the match. The Warriors jumped out to a 10-2 lead in game two, and led 17-10 midway through the third game. But each time, Palmer was able to climb back.

&#8220We've played a lot of these games that end up 27-25,” Palmer head coach Steve Reynolds said. &#8220Those games are great games to have your players in. It's great experience. We've won a bunch of those close games, and now they play with confidence. I'm pleased to see that in this point of the season.”

Late in the second game, Palmer broke a 20-20 tie with a Nicole Kenny kill. The Moose forced a pair of Warrior errors at the close of the game.

The Warriors nearly forced a fourth game with kills by Alana Wright and Kaylee Johnson, but Ashley Dickerson scored Palmer's final three points to notch the win. Dickerson posted a pair of kills in the final minutes, and an ace on the final serve of the night.

Dickerson led the Moose with 13 kills in the match. Vaughan, Kenny and Stephanie Houser each scored nine kills.

&#8220Our workload was spread out among four players. That's pretty nice,” Reynolds said. &#8220That means we always have someone up there taking care of business.”

The Valley squads have another week to prepare for the Northern Lights Conference championship tournament, hosted by Soldotna High School Nov. 3-5.

Each of the NLC squads in the Valley have a pair of home matches this weekend to close the regular

season.

Palmer hosts Soldotna at 6 p.m. Friday, and Kenai at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Wasilla is at home against Homer at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Skyview at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Colony, currently first place in Region III play, hosts second-place Kenai at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, and Soldotna at noon on Saturday.

The Knights and Kardinals are the only teams still unbeaten in conference

play.