State volleyball: Serving, defense sends Moose into semis

WASILLA — The Palmer Moose are built differently than some of the teams in the state tournament field. But the Moose know where their strengths are.

Palmer used a balanced attack, stellar setting and strong defense to score a 3-1 (24-26, 25-14, 25-23, 25-15) win over the Chugiak Mustangs during the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Volleyball Championships quarterfinals at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla on Thursday.

“The Anchorage teams always have big hitters and we’re not exactly the tallest team out there,” Palmer senior Kasara Brandenburg said. “Our tallest girl is (5-foot-10), maybe 5-11 at most. We have to get every single ball up that we can and play really great defense.”

And that’s what Palmer did.

Palmer’s high in kills was senior Kalene Smith’s 11, but the Moose had five hitters with at least six kills. The Moose defense also helped keep the points stay on the Palmer side.

“We don’t have the big guys some of the other schools have,” Palmer head coach Steve Reynolds said. “We have to rely on multiple girls getting kills, backed up with solid defense.”

Reynolds said senior setter Jenna Arlow, senior outside hitter Morgan Morfe and junior libero Lily Cullers are key to Palmer’s ability to put together a solid defense and passing game.

“It’s a pass and serve game, it really is,” Reynolds said. “If you pass well and keep the ball off the floor you can play with anybody.”

And that’s something the Moose focus on.

“We work on defense every day in practice, and it shows,” Brandenburg said.

Arlow, who was named the Northern Lights Conference North Division Player of the Year last week, led the Moose with 32 assists and consistent serving.

“Jenna did a very nice job serving the ball, being a setter, captain,and leading the show,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds also noted the work of Brandenburg.

“She has really been getting after it,” Reynolds said of the senior, who finished with eight kills.

He also noted the all-around work of Morfe, who finished with eight kills and continued to be among the strongest Moose on the back row.

“She does a really nice job,” Reynolds said of Morfe. “She has a real nice arsenal of jump serves that she can go to. Even if she doesn’t get aces, she does a real nice job of keeping teams off balance.”

Palmer worked its way to significant leads during each of the first two games. Palmer led 5-0 in Game 1, but Chugiak rallied to take the first set 26-24. The Moose led 12-0 in Game 2.

Brandenburg echoed Reynolds, crediting Palmer’s serve.

“We have really good serving,” the senior said.

Palmer created mid-game runs during the third and fourth sets to create a cushion. The Moose used an 8-2 run in Game 3 to push a 5-4 lead to 13-6. Later in the game, Morfe served six straight points to give the Moose a 10-point advantage.

In Game 4, Brandenburg sparked a Palmer 8-1 run with a pair of kills.

Chugiak cut Palmer’s lead to six points midway through the final game of the match, but could not get closer.

The Palmer win sets up a semifinal date with Cook Inlet Conference champion South Anchorage, which swept Wasilla earlier in the day.

“South’s tough,” Reynolds said. “They have a lot of great athletes and a great setter. It’s going to be a tough task for us.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.