Moose spikers net first win

The Palmer Moose volleyball squad has started the 2003 season the same way they ended the 2002 campaign-- with a win.

Palmer swept the visiting Chugiak Mustangs in a three-game affair, winning 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-20) in the Palmer High School gym on Tuesday.

The nonconference date was the season opener for each team.

The last time the Moose took the court, Palmer defeated Homer at West High School to take the third position in the 4A state volleyball tourney last November.

Though Palmer did sweep the three-game match, the Mustangs did not just hand the win over to the Moose. Chugiak led at several points in both the first and second games before Palmer was able to shift the momentum completely toward its end in the third.

"All three games were close, but we were able to come out on top," Palmer head coach Steve Reynolds said. "The third match was better. We were able to get a small lead right off and maintain it.

"More traditional rally scoring, get ahead and keep it."

Palmer and Chugiak also played their first official match with the new scoring style. The Alaska School Activities Association opted to change girls' volleyball from the traditional scoring format to the rally scoring format.

Rally scoring awards a team a point on every serve and games are played to 25 points. Traditional scoring only awards a team a point if it had possession, or made the serve, and games are played to just 15 points.

Professional volleyball and men's collegiate volleyball were the first to adopt the rally scoring. Collegiate women's volleyball made the switch three years ago and now prep organizations are following suit.

Palmer was led in the contest by Jesse Macknicki. The senior outside hitter smacked down 12 kills and collected eight digs.

Fellow senior Jayme Irvine registered 18 assists and five service aces.