Warriors outlast Knights in Region III volleyball action

PALMER -- It took five games, but the Wasilla Warriors outlasted the Colony Knights 3-2 (8-15, 16-14, 15-4, 15-6, 14-11) in high school volleyball action at Colony Gym Tuesday.

The height advantage of Wasilla proved to be the difference in the contest. The Warriors tandem of 5-10 hitters Lindsey Shogren and Carlie Douglas tormented the Knights throughout the match.

Shogren spent most of the match sending blistering hits onto the Knights side of the court. The senior middle hitter posted a match-high 20 kills and five blocks.

"They weren't able to block her," Wasilla head coach Gary Steinfort said of Shogren.

Douglas added 11 kills and two blocks for Wasilla.

The Knights were in position to take a two-game advantage early in the match. After cruising to a victory in the first game, Colony broke a 7-7 tie and scored four straight points to take an 11-7 lead.

The Warriors clawed their way back in and tied the match at 11-11. The teams traded leads until they were tied again.

With the score 14-14, Wasilla's Melanie Hoeft notched a service ace to give Wasilla the single-point advantage. A Colony hitting error gave the Warriors the win in game two.

The Warriors and the Knights each took one of the following two games in similar fashion.

Wasilla got out to an 8-1 lead in game three and Colony could not recover, while Colony leapt to a 9-2 advantage in game four.

Wasilla took the quick advantage in the fifth and deciding game. Shogren quickly notched a pair of kills to give Wasilla a 2-0 lead.

Later in the match Shogren served five consecutive points with a service ace sandwiched between two Douglas kills.

Wasilla went on another run late in the game as Morgan Uscola tallied three consecutive service aces.