WHS tops Colony after slow start

WASILLA — After a 10-day break from volleyball action, the Wasilla Warriors were rudely awakened by Mary Klapperich and the Colony Knights.

After the Warriors were dominated in game 1, Wasilla slowly came back to beat Colony 3-1 (20-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-19) at Wasilla High School Thursday night.

Colony hitters Klapperich and Shellina Irwin combined for eight kills during the Knights’ convincing victory in the first game. Irwin served six straight points during the middle of the game to solidify Colony’s momentum and put the game out of reach. Klapperich and sophomore blocker Allison Leigh were a nightmare for one half of the Warriors dynamic pair of hitters, Sariah Tuisaula.

During Irwin’s streak, Tuisaula’s powerful blasts fell harmlessly to the Wasilla side of the net multiple times, posing a major problem for the Warriors. Wasilla showed some life near the end of the game when Tuisaula’s counterpart, Aryn Crane, led her team to a grueling six-point streak to save some dignity at the end of the game.

“She’s a player who can play anywhere, and she knows how to adjust to the defense,” Wasilla head coach Claudia Farias-Pinard said of Tuisaula.

Tuisaula was not subdued for long, though.

“I talked to my setters and had them set it short, and it worked,” Tuisaula said.

It worked well enough for an incredible match-high 26 kills. With each Tuisaula smash, time continued to run out on the Colony Knights’ attempt to come from behind.

After the one-sided first game, long volleys ruled the second set.

“We haven’t played in 10 days, and so in the first game we learned our lesson. In the second game we started to play as a team, play the game we know,” said Farias-Pinard

Irwin led all players in floor burns — by a wide margin — and finished with nine kills.

“I really wanted it, but the team wanted it. On Friday, we have to go to practice and work harder,” said a visibly disappointed Irwin after the match.

After the power struggle of the second game, Tuisaula took the third game with a bang.

Tuisaula finished with nine kills and an ace in the third set alone. The more comfortable she got with the short sets, the harder her already powerful hits became.

“We just wanted to prove everybody wrong, especially against Colony,” Tuisaula said.

With the Warriors leading 12-4 in the fourth game, Colony head coach Amy Carter called a time-out, hoping to regroup and lead a comeback against the Warriors. Although the Knights fought valiantly in the third game, Tuisaula, Crane and the Warriors’ 11 aces were too much for the Knights.

Irwin’s hustle, along with Klapperich, led the Knights. Klapperich stuffed the statistic sheet with 10 kills, nine blocks and an ace.

Aryn Crane had 10 kills and two aces for Wasilla.

“It’s really important to start winning, get our excitement up, get the hype up for tomorrow night,” said Farias-Pinard.

The Warriors face the Palmer Moose tonight in what will likely be the second heavyweight match in two days for Wasilla.

“We want to come in strong and ready to fight,” Tuisaula said.

The Warriors play at Palmer at 6:30 p.m.

Tim Rockey is a senior at Palmer High School and contributes to the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman schools and sports section.