Palmer topples Kenai for Pritchard title

Palmer defeated Kenai Central 25-20 and 25-23 to win the 18th annual Shayna Pritchard Memorial Volleyball Tournament at Nikiski Middle-High School on Saturday.

The tournament is in honor of Pritchard, a former volleyball and basketball player for the Bulldogs who was killed in a car accident in Colorado in 2007. Half of the proceeds go to the Shayna Pritchard Scholarship Fund.

Homer’s Madelyn Miotke won the Shayna Marie Pritchard Award. The honor goes to a player that works hard, has fun and supports teammates.

The Moose were able to stop Kenai’s five-year run atop the tournament.

Palmer, a Class 4A school, had to defeat Nikiski, last year’s Class 3A state champ, in the semifinals, then the Kardinals, last year’s 3A state runner-up, in the final.

“I don’t know if this group of girls has won a big tournament like this against some top teams,” Palmer head coach Kate Lapham said. “So they played really well.

“They played through some adversity, and I’m really happy with how they both played on the court, and then how they reacted to the adversity and managed their emotions.”

The adversity came with the score locked at 10 in Game 2. Outside hitter Khloe Ivey sprained her ankle and gamely tried to continue for a few points but could not.

“She’s our go-to hitter, and we worked as a team to overcome that and win that second set against Kenai to prevent a third,” Lapham said. “It was a team effort and a team win all around.”

Lapham said Jordyn Galloway, normally a back-row player, filled in for Ivey and did a great job.

Setter Riley Jenski also had several service runs that got the Moose back in the game.

In recent years, Kenai has been at its toughest at the end of close games, but Palmer was able to pull out a pair of close ones Saturday.

Friday in pool play, the Kards topped the Moose 25-23 and 28-26.

“I know they were really itching to have a rematch and get some redemption against yesterday,” Lapham said.

The Kardinals have just two returning starters from last year playing. While head coach Tracie Beck didn’t get another title, she did get to see her team continue to progress.

“We had a barn burner with Palmer yesterday, and we ended up on top of that,” she said. “I was super excited to see that progress, because the more experience you have with that, the better chance you have to finish that.”

Beck said the Moose were able to come back and win Saturday because Kenai had key hitting errors and made some bad decisions.

“I’m pleased with where we were a week ago to this tournament,” Beck said. “With only two returners, we’re going to keep working and try to figure out what puzzle is going to work.

“And this tournament, they played great.”

Sophie Tapley, the tournament MVP, had seven kills in the final.

Bryleigh Williams had three blocks, three kills and two aces, while setter Gracee Every had three kills and two aces.

Beck said Every is doing great in her first year as the varsity setter, while Williams, a sophomore, is starting to come up with big blocks and kills.

The coach also said Sage Wilson had a solid defensive match.

Although Palmer was able to come out on top, Kenai Peninsula schools Kenai, Homer, Nikiski and Seward also put on a solid show.

“The peninsula is strong,” Beck said. “It benefits all of us, because then we have a better chance to go on.”

In Saturday’s first round, Palmer defeated Seward 25-12 and 25-10 and Homer defeated Monroe Catholic 20-25, 25-21 and 15-11.

In the semifinals, Palmer defeated Nikiski 25-23, 11-25 and 15-11, and Kenai defeated Homer 25-19 and 25-20.

In the fifth-place match, Monroe topped Seward 25-19, 20-25 and 18-16.

In the third-place match, Homer defeated Nikiski 14-25, 25-16 and 15-11.

18th annual Shayna Pritchard Memorial Volleyball Tournament

Shayna Marie Pritchard Award — Madelyn Miotke, Homer.

MVP — Sophie Tapley, Kenai.

All-tournament team — Kenleigh Newton, Monroe; Alysha Nyvall, Homer; Khloe Ivey, Palmer; Mandee Roofe, Nikiski; Abby White, Nikiski; Reilly Sue Baker, Homer; Blakeley Jorgensen, Nikiski; Milly Hornung, Nikiski; Samantha Thomas, Palmer.