NLC power brings young team to court

PALMER — A trend appears to be forming within the Colony High School volleyball program.

The Knights have a very successful season, graduate the bulk of its starting lineup, return the following year with a host of new talent and enjoy another successful season.

Last year, the Knights opened the 2009 campaign with two returning varsity players. Despite the lack of veteran depth, things worked out OK. Colony finished as the runner-up in the Northern Lights Conference and the 4A state tournaments.

This season, the Knights are back in a familiar spot. Colony returns only four players with varsity experience.

“We’re young this year,” Colony head coach Amy Carter said earlier this week. “Basically, we’re rebuilding again.”

Seniors Shellina Irwin, Tess Forstner, Laura Maresh and Kathryn Mayer return to the varsity squad. They are the only four seniors on the squad and among six upperclassmen on the team.

“We’re definitely looking for a lot of those seniors to take up the leadership roles,” Carter said.

Irwin and Forstner held their ground in the middle last year, but this season, Irwin is moving to the outside, Carter said.

“We kind of played around with her on the outside on a couple plays last year,” Carter said. “She’ll be playing the back row. She’s versatile.”

Carter is happy about what she has in the middle. Joining Forstner are 6-foot sophomores Mary Klapperich and Allison Leigh.

“We have some strength in the middle,” Carter said. “We have decent size. It’s the biggest team we’ve ever had as far as height.”

The Knights graduated a half-dozen seniors, including NLC North Division MVP Siobhan Johansen. Carter said the Knights will use two sophomore setters, Olivia Martin and Maryann Zmuda, to fill the void left by Johansen, who now plays college volleyball at Division II UAA.

Mayer is expected to play on the right side, Carter said, and Maresh will be the team’s libero.

Juniors Jordan Ertz and Brittany Anderson round out the varsity roster.

Colony finished second to Valley rival Wasilla during the Palmer Jamboree, a round-robin tourney hosted by Palmer High School last weekend. The Knights hit the court today at Chugiak High School, as one of a dozen teams slated to compete in the Chugiak Invitational. The Knights begin pool play against host Chugiak at 2 p.m.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.