Prep volleyball: Moose, Knights move forward to state tournament

Nov. 7, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

Looking at the regular season records, most would have probably thought Palmer, 9-1 in Northern Lights Conference play, and undefeated Skyview would be battling for the NLC title.

But instead, it was Colony and Soldotna in the title bout, and Palmer and Skyview fighting for their seasons.

&#8220I've been to enough region tournaments to know anything can happen at the region tourney,” Palmer head coach Steve Reynolds said. &#8220The rest of the season doesn't matter. You start over and anything can happen - it can happen to you.”

Colony upset Palmer in the conference semifinals, and beat Soldonta in the championship match on the following day.

In his seventh season as head coach of the Moose, Reynolds has been through it all.

&#8220It's yours to lose - I've been in that situation. We've been the spoiler. We've been the young team with nothing to lose,” Reynolds said.

In the semifinals, Palmer was the favorite, and Colony - with just one senior - was that young team. While some may have questioned the abilities of the Knights, Reynolds has not.

&#8220I've been saying all along, Colony's going to be just fine,” Reynolds said. &#8220There's nothing wrong with that Colony team.”

Playing that spoiler role may have helped Colony, while the Moose may have felt the pressure of being at the top of the Northern Lights Conference

standings.

&#8220They had less pressure. I don't think a lot of people on the outside looking in understand the role that pressure plays,” Reynolds said. &#8220When you have a good team, there's a lot of pressure that goes along with it.”

As Palmer's match with Colony progressed, Reynolds said, he saw his players play tighter, while Colony played loose.

&#8220I kept telling them, leave the floor having played the best game you've played,” Colony head coach Amy Carter said.

Colony, a team made up primarily of sophomores and juniors, has now exceeded all expectations.

&#8220We've talked about this all season, if they come in and play well, they can at least play with anyone in the state,” Carter said.

Throughout the season, Carter said, the Knights have been thinking more about earning a spot in the state tourney, rather than potentially earning a conference championship.

&#8220Going into the season, I thought it would be good for them to go to state, just to seewhat it was like,” Carter said.

After winning the NLC title, Carter isn't sure her team can exactly be classified as an underdog anymore, regardless of who Colony is

playing.

On Thursday, Colony opens the large-schools state volleyball championships against the defending state champion South Anchorage Wolverines. South was upset by East Anchorage in the Cook Inlet Conference championship match on Saturday.

Colony plays South at

5:30 p.m.

Palmer opens the tourney against West Valley at

2 p.m.

Both Valley squads have seen their first-round opponents this season. Colony faced South in the West Spiketacular, while Palmer met WV in the title game of the West Valley Invitational.

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