Prep volleyball preview: Knights, Moose look to stay in the top tier of the NLC

Aug. 21, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - In the past several years, at least one thing has remained constant in the Northern Lights Conference. Each season, Colony and Palmer seem to always be in the hunt for the conference volleyball championship.

And this year, the Knights and the Moose should once again be among the teams battling for the region title.

The Knights, the three-time defending NLC champs, return a strong cast of players, including four seniors.

&#8220We're feeling pretty good about things,” Colony head coach Amy Carter said at the Palmer Jamboree on Friday.

Colony's four seniors - middle hitter Hannah Curtis, setter Desi Diselrod, outside hitter Kristin Coan and libero Micaela Stein - should factor heavily into the Knights quest for a fourth consecutive conference title and fifth straight appearance in the large-schools state tournament.

Curtis, a 6-foot middle hitter, is entering her third season as a varsity player. Carter said she saw Curtis' confidence improve last season, and Curtis has even more confidence this year. Plus Curtis is taking on more of a leadership role, Carter said.

Carter also praised the work of Diselrod, and the chemistry her setter has with Curtis.

&#8220She's a competitor. She works really hard,” Carter said of Diselrod. &#8220She makes something happen with the ball.”

To go along with her seniors, Carter also has a talented group of juniors, a class that includes outside hitter Kara Larson, middle hitter Allie Grazulis and setter Jackie Hamann.

At 5-10 each, Larson and Grazulis will also add significant size to the Knights lineup.

Overall, Carter said she is hoping to be a little more balance this year.

&#8220We're trying to get more hitters the ball,” she said.

The Moose also return four seniors, but head coach Steve Reynolds said he also has a host of players with not a ton of varsity experience.

Two of Reynolds' seniors - setter Sarah Svedin and outside hitter Nicole Kenney - were regulars in the varsity game plan. But the other two - middle hitters Geneva Ratcliff and Colleen Bue - took on more of a reserve role.

The Moose also have six juniors, including outside hitter Mikaela Bolling, who Reynolds is hoping to work into the lineup.

While there is some inexperience, Reynolds said he is already seeing his squad act as a cohesive unit.

&#8220We've got a lot of new people, but I am definitely very happy with how well they play together,” Reynolds said. &#8220It's nice to already have that at the beginning of the season. A lot of the time you spend half of your season trying to get on the same page.”

Reynolds said he has also been impressed with the leadership his older players are showing.

The Moose graduated five seniors from a squad that captured third place in both the NLC and state tournaments, and the most apparent losses are in the middle. With both 6-foot-2 middle hitter Stephanie Houser and 5-10 middle hitter Ashley Dickerson gone, Reynolds will look to Ratcliff and Bue to play in front of the net.

Reynolds said Kenney is in one of the outside hitter positions, but the other is up for grabs.

&#8220We've got a bunch of juniors vying for that spot,” Reynolds said.

Defensively, Reynolds said, Kenney will be a leader, digging the ball.

Svedin will handle the bulk of the setting duties. Already a legitimate talent, Reynolds said Svedin is still improving.

&#8220She's playing like a senior setter ought to. She's always been a nice setter, but she's improved some of the other areas of her game,” Reynolds said.

Palmer starts its season tonight with a nonconference match against Houston at PHS at 6:30 p.m. This weekend, Palmer and Colony will both compete in the Chugiak Mustang Invitational at Chugiak High School.

Knights outlast

Cordova in Jamboree

Colony edged Cordova, the two-time defending 3A state champion, in the final match of the Palmer Jamboree at Palmer High School on Saturday.

The Knights slipped past the Wolverines 36-34 in the first game, and 25-17 in the second.

Eight programs - Colony, Cordova, Houston, Wasilla, Grace Christian, Valdez, Anchorage Christian and the host Moose - participated in the event. Following two days of round robin play, the top teams from two pools were paired against each other.

Colony and Cordova were the top teams from the two pools.

The second-place teams from each pool - Wasilla and Palmer - were matched up, with the Warriors edging the Moose.

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