Palmer, queens of the cabbage patch

PALMER -- They are not exactly Cabbage Patch Kids, but the Palmer volleyball squad has been anointed the queens cabbage, by virtue of a 3-0 (15-7, 15-6, 15-2) over Valley rival Colony in the first annual Cabbage Bowl at Colony High School Tuesday.

The Cabbage Bowl was created by the Colony Volleyball Booster Club at the beginning of the season to give even more meaning to the final match of the season between the varsity programs of the two Palmer schools.

Colony volleyball parents Tom and Bridgette Preston coined the name, paying homage to two of the Valley's most prominent seasons -- high school volleyball and the cabbage harvest.

The Knights germinated an early lead in the first game of the match. Colony jumped out to a 7-1 advantage led by three kills from Amy Burns and a pair of kills from Rochelle Ray.

Emily Sakis posted a pair of kills, good for two points, to narrow the Colony lead to 7-5. After Palmer brought the game to a tie, the Moose pulled ahead as middle hitter Ashley Mills tipped the ball over the net.

Palmer would not allow another point to Colony in the game.

"We had a rough weekend and that carried over to the first game and a little bit in the second," Palmer mentor Steve Reynolds said. "We haven't played a regular match in a while, we have been playing in the tourneys. Once we were able to settle down, we were able to build some momentum and carry that."

Colony again jumped out to a quick lead in the second game, but would only hold a 2-0 advantage before the Moose stormed ahead. Palmer scored five straight points, behind the serving of Brianna Johnson, giving the Moose a 5-2 advantage.

The final game of the match was all Palmer. The Moose were facing game-point before Colony was able to score. Kristin Mayschak posted a service ace and a kill in the final moments of the match, to help Colony avoid the shutout in the game.

"We were hitting more aggressively and that showed later in the match," Reynolds said.

The Moose were led by a pair of stellar performances from Sakis and junior Jessie Macknicki. Sakis posted 20 kills while Macknicki added 18 kills. Jayme Irvine registered 10 digs and 22 assists for Palmer and Johnson added 23 assists. Cate Jelle led the Moose blockers with eight blocks.

Zeenie Preston led the Knights with 19 digs in the match. Amy Burns tallied 16 digs, while Ray added 11 digs and six kills.

With the win, the Moose also swept the season series between the Palmer schools. Palmer defeated Colony 3-1 at Palmer High School earlier this season.

The Knights will host Skyview tonight at 5 p.m. and Homer tomorrow at noon.

The Moose will welcome Homer to the Palmer Gym, tonight at 6 p.m. and Skyview tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.

Palmer's match with Skyview will pair the top squad from the Northern Division of Region III with the top team from the Southern Division of the region.

Next week both squads will compete in the regional tournament in Soldotna.

"I asked them to pick it up and they did," Reynolds said. "We are starting that final stretch and it is important that we stay motivated."

News from the Cabbage Patch … Prior to the match, Palmer and Colony were literally Cabbage Bowling. A makeshift bowling alley was set up on the court before the teams hit the hardwood. Pins were set up and the ball of choice was a head of cabbage. Colony athletic director Mike Boyd and Knight assistant coach Lance Petrie were selected for the Colony bowling squad and PHS principal Wolfgang Winter and assistant volleyball coach Marge Johsnon bowled for the Moose.

Johnson had the first roll of the event, missing the entire alley on her first shot. She recovered to record a strike on her second roll.

Winter knocked down nine pins on his first roll en route to a spare.

Petrie nailed seven pins in two rolls and Boyd recorded a spare for Colony. The Moose won the challenge, but the ball of cabbage did not survive. Coincidentally, cole slaw was given away as a door prize during the match.

Colony and Palmer continue their quest to formulate the friendliest rivalry in high school sports. Prior to the match, the Colony players presented the Palmer student-athletes with a flower and a Cabbage Bowl t-shirt.