Warriors rally to edge Moose at PHS

PALMER — At one moment, the Palmer Moose appeared ready to go for the sweep over a chief rival on their home court. But things can change quickly on the volleyball court, and a shift in momentum led to a victory for the visitor.

Wasilla won three straight sets to score a 3-2 (21-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-21, 15-10) win over the Moose Tuesday evening at Palmer High School.

“We started out pretty strong, and they finished strong,” Palmer head coach Jayme DeHart said after the loss.

Wasilla’s pair of 6-foot-3 middle hitters Olivia Vincent and Leya DePriest combined for 19 kills and nine blocks to help the Warriors improve to 3-1 in Northern Lights Conference play.

“They do well for them. That’s a big advantage for them,” DeHart said of Wasilla’s height in the middle. “They never rotate out. There’s always a 6-foot tall girl there.”

Vincent helped spark the Warriors during a key stretch of the third game. With the Warriors down by two sets and the score tied at 3 early in the third game, Vincent smacked the ball into a hole in the Palmer defense. It was the first of five straight points for the Warriors. Vincent had a pair of kills and a block during a run, that also featured a Maggie Zwolinski service ace.

“Vincent is really coming through for us,” Wasilla head coach Josie Cannon said of the junior. “She’s really stepped up to the plate.”

Wasilla took an 8-3 lead with the five-point, and used another short run to lead 12-6 midway through the third game.

“We were very jittery to start the first two sets,” Cannon said. “We calmed down and overcame it as far as taking care of the ball. That’s what I asked. Just take care of the ball.”

Wasilla opened the decisive fifth game with four straight points, and overcame a Palmer four-point run that tied the game at 4. The stretch for the Moose included a potential momentum-swinging play courtesy of Palmer senior libero Carly Venzke.

From the middle of the floor, Venzke dove across the floor toward the net, to pick up a loose ball, keeping the play alive. Erika Spencer capped the play with a kill to tie the score at 4.

But despite the highlight-reel worthy effort of Venzke, Wasilla was able to rebound with key points. Lidsey Cizek and Merit Paramo used kills to give Wasilla a lead. Cate Currier ended a long volley by tapping the ball over the left side of the net to give the Warriors the 9-6 advantage. Wasilla outscored Palmer 4-1 during the final stretch of the match to cement the win.

Vincent led the Warriors with 11 kills and six blocks, and DePriest added eight kills and three blocks. Cizek collected 17 assists and seven kills. Currier had nine kills and four aces, and Zwolinski led Wasilla with 29 assists.

Venzke led Palmer with 19 digs. Sammy Buresh recorded 10 kills, and Holly Corbin added nine kills.

Palmer dropped to 2-2 in the NLC with the loss.

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