Prep volleyball: Moose second at Chugiak Invite

Aug. 28, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

CHUGIAK - When Palmer High School head coach Steve Reynolds leads his team into a round-robin style tournament, his first goal is to see his team included in the top tier of talent when the round-robin tourney is split into it's two pools.

&#8220On the second day you want to be playing with the good teams,” Reynolds said. &#8220That is really my main goal. You can't improve if you're not playing those tougher teams.”

After the round-robin play on Saturday, Reynolds did find his Moose in the top pool. Palmer held on to finish second in the Chugiak Invitational at Chugiak High School.

Palmer beat crosstown rival Colony 2-0 on the second day of the event to move into the championship match Saturday afternoon.

Defending large-schools state champion South Anchorage clipped the Moose in the final match to claim the tourney title.

Reynolds said much of Palmer's early season success can be attributed to how the Moose are working as a team.

&#8220What really stood out, what I love about this team, is they fit together nicely,” Reynolds said of the players on his varsity roster. &#8220That's the main thing. We're already playing like a team most of the time.”

Seniors Nicole Kenney and Sarah Svedin were named to the all-tournament team following the event. In addition to their play on the court, Reynolds said Kenney and Svedin are standing out as captains.

&#8220They're providing some nice leadership,” Reynolds said. &#8220They've been very helpful.”

Colony seniors Hannah Curtis and Desi Diselrod were named all-tournament.

Wasilla splits

with Kodiak

Wasilla is now 1-1 in Northern Lights Conference play after its first region matches of the season last weekend.

The Warriors split a two-match series at Kodiak High School, falling to the Bears 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 21-25, 29-27) on Friday and beating Kodiak 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-23, 25-23) on Saturday.

Junior Jenna Johnson led the Warriors with 15 kills in the win over the Bears on Saturday. Senior Ashlen Welch added eight kills and junior Danielle Harris chipped in seven.

On Friday, Johnson, Welch and Harris recorded seven kills each.

The Warriors (1-2 overall) host Palmer (2-0 overall, 0-0 NLC) tonight at 6:30 p.m.

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