Prep volleyball: Moose move forward into state semifinals

Nov. 10, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE - The Palmer Moose have had a few too many opportunities to give head coach Steve Reynolds a few too many gray hairs in the last two weeks.

The Moose, a team that swept opponents with regularity during the regular season, battled through a pair of five-game matches during the Northern Lights Conference championships last week, and at times, looked like they'd do the same thing in their opening match of the state tournament on Thursday.

But the Moose resisted the temptation to take the match to the maximum, and earned a 3-1 (25-21, 12-25, 25-12, 25-19) win over the West Valley Wolfpack on the first day of the ASAA First National Bank 4A state volleyball championships at West Anchorage High School.

Palmer, 9-1 in conference play during the regular season, was upset by Colony in a five-game semifinal match during the conference championships. The Moose also had to survive a 2-0 deficit, and come from behind to beat Skyview in a five-game thriller in the match that decided which team would earn the conference's final state tournament bid. There were moments during the win over West Valley, most notably the second game of the match, where it looked like Palmer would have another five-game roller coaster on its hands.

&#8220We kept talking about that. Let's put it away. Let's not go five games,” said Reynolds, who is coaching in his seventh-straight state tournament appearance as the Moose head coach.

While the Wolfpack threatened in the fourth game, and definitely gave Reynolds a gray hair or two, he said, Palmer took control of the match during the third game.

After allowing West Valley to tie the score at 10-10 midway through, Palmer ended the game on a 15-2 run.

The hitting of senior Ashley Dickerson, senior Stephanie Houser and junior Nicole Kenney fueled Palmer's fire during the run. Dickerson accounted for Palmer's first three points during the run, and teamed with junior Sarah Svedin on a block for the fourth.

Kenney gave the Moose a 17-11 lead with a hard knock to the right side of the court, and added to the advantage with a soft push into the middle.

Following a Dickerson ace, Houser posted a late kill and a block to prevent any sort of a West Valley comeback.

Blocking and passing proved to be pivotal. The Moose posted 22 total blocks in the match, and quality passing helped prevent West Valley from getting many free points.

&#8220It's the same basic stuff - just passing and playing defense,” Reynolds said.

And that, he said, is thanks to playing a little more relaxed after the gain in momentum.

&#8220When you get on a roll, it's easier to pass. You're more relaxed,” Reynolds said. &#8220The same goes for defense.”

Houser, the reigning Northern Lights Conference player of the year, led the Moose with 11 kills and eight blocks, while Dickerson added 10 kills and four blocks.

Kenney recorded a team-high 21 digs.

With the win, Palmer moves into the semifinal round of the 2006 tourney. The Moose have placed third in state three times under Reynolds' watch, but are still looking for their first state volleyball title in school history.

Tonight Palmer takes on East Anchorage, the Cook Inlet Conference champions, at 7:15 p.m. at West High School.

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