Moose spike Knights, remain undefeated

PALMER -- Colony gave them a scare, the Moose remained undefeated.

Palmer prevented a late Knight surge to defeat Colony 3-1 (15-6, 15-1, 14-16, 15-8) and improve to 6-0 on the young season.

The Moose cruised to an early two-game advantage in the match. Palmer leapt out to a 4-0 lead in game one and a 7-0 advantage in game two.

The first lead for the Knights came midway through game three. Alyson Boyd notched a kill to break an 8-8 tie and give CHS the one-point advantage.

Colony would increase their lead to 13-8 in the game. Palmer clawed their way back into the game and the score was eventually tied again, this time at 14-14.

With the score tied, Palmer's Jessica Mackinicki sent a hard hit over the net, only to have it dug out by Colony's Amanda Burns. The Knights sent the ball back over the net and it fell between a triangle of Moose defenders.

A Palmer hitting error gave the Knights the 16-14 win in game three.

The game marked only the second time this season the Moose have lost a game in a match. Palmer has swept four of their six opponents and before Tuesday, Soldotna was the only team to have even taken a game from Palmer.

The Knights stayed close to the Moose during the fourth and deciding game. Colony jumped out to a 5-2 lead

early in the game. The Moose came back to win 15-8.

"Even though we lost the third game, I liked the way we finished," Palmer head coach Steve Reynolds said. "We gained momentum and that carried us over to the fourth game. Volleyball is a game of momentum. Colony played really great defense. They don't have height, but on the flip-side they have good defense."

The Knights spent the match digging and returning the barrage of Palmer attacks. Colony had 104 digs in the contest, including a match-high 37 from Burns.

"We are young and pretty inexperienced, but I think we played great tonight," Colony head coach Faith Scott said. "We know that we are not tall, so we have to rely on our defense."

Emily Sakis again led the Moose with 19 kills, 14 digs and six blocks. Mackinicki added 10 kills and 12 digs.

Setters Brianna Johnson and Jayme Irvine combined for 40 assists.

Burns led the Knights with eight kills and 37 digs. Rochelle Ray added nine kills and 15 digs for the Knights.

Cabbage Match

There is now a new tradition in the Valley. There is already the Potato Bowl, now there is the Cabbage Bowl. Colony devised the idea to bring the special match to the already heated rivalry between the two Palmer schools.

The match will occur once per year at alternating venues. The rotating trophy will stay in the possession of the winning program.

"Anything to increase a little excitement is a fine idea," Reynolds said.

Colony will host the first annual Cabbage Bowl on Oct. 22.

Like a good neighbor

The Knights and Moose are doing their part to make the relationship between Palmer and Colony High Schools a little more friendly.

Prior to the beginning of the varsity match, the Palmer girls each handed a green carnation to a Colony player.

A former colony coach began this practice and Palmer decided to continue the

tradition.