For the past five years, Colony and Palmer have been the dominant volleyball programs among Valley high schools.
But last season a new team stepped into that mix.
The Wasilla Warriors last season earned their first berth to the Class 4A state tournament since 2003. That meant Valley schools -- Colony, Palmer and Wasilla -- swept the three spots to state afforded from the Northern Lights Conference.
Credit second-year coach Anna Simmons. Originally from Glennallen, Simmons coached Wasilla through the tough conference tournament, where Wasilla had to win two games in consolation to qualify for state.
"We were very excited about that," Simmons said. "We knew we could do it all year. We were just peaking at the right time. We got a taste of state. Hopefully, we'll do it again."
Wasilla returns four key players, all seniors: middle hitter Jenna Johnson, outside hitter Sammy Becker, right side hitter Kelsie Cline and setter Alex Firestack.
Johnson was the team leader in hitting, blocking and passing last season. Cline, at 6-feet, can also play in the middle. Firestack was a backup last season and looks to take a major role on the team, and Becker earned her share of kills.
Junior setter April Gehring moves up from junior varsity and figures to earn playing time.
"We're pretty excited. We have many returners with solid experience," Simmons said.
The Wasilla program also gets experience from Faith Scott, the former head coach at Colony who now heads the Wasilla junior varsity.
"She's coached twice as long as me," Simmons said. "She's already been giving me some advice here and there, which is really great."
Colony is coming off one of its most successful seasons in years as runner-up in the Northern Lights Conference tournament and runner-up at state.
Colony fell to a dominant South team 3-0 in last year's state final. Five players who either started or garnered lots of playing time return: senior middle blocker Allie Grazulis, senior libero Jackie Hamann, junior outside hitter Sierra Hodgson, junior setter Siobhan Johanson and senior right side hitter Kara Johnson.
April Bleicher, Nicole Davis and Emily Rich all played at state last season, and senior Kara Larson returns to volleyball after starting as a sophomore and skipping last season.
Colony lost its top offensive threat, Hannah Curtis, now a freshman player at Division I Rutgers University.
Grazulis, who was almost always second on the team in kills last season to Curtis, will be the player most likely to fill that void.
"She'll be our No. 1 hitter," said Colony coach Amy Carter, who is beginning her fifth season. "Allie's just extremely athletic. She can hit the ball well, she blocks well, she's quick, and she's actually one of our better passers. She even sets well. She's just all-around an excellent athlete."
Palmer returns just two starters -- outside hitter Mikaela Bolling and setter/right side hitter Rashayne Zimmer, both seniors. Bolling and Zimmer were instrumental in Palmer's success last season -- its first Northern Lights Conference title since 2003, and a fourth-place finish at the state tournament.
Three other seniors that played limited minutes last season return: outside hitter Jordan Venske, middle blocker Hannah Willardson and setter Zoe Rozzi.
Palmer coach Steve Reynolds is beginning his ninth year. He said he has the same expectations he always does: simply to improve. That approach has worked, as Palmer has qualified for state all of those years.
"We always do the same thing, focus on continual improvement, whether we start the year with a bunch of hot players or it's a rebuilding situation," Reynolds said. "If you do that, you set yourself up for being successful and hopefully enjoying yourself."
Find Ron Wilmot online at adn.com/contact/rwilmot or call 352-6712.
By RON WILMOT
rwilmot@adn.com