Sports : Palmer senior named NLC MVP - Frontiersman

Sports : Palmer senior named NLC MVP - Frontiersman
Palmer senior named NLC MVP
By JEREMIAH BARTZ
Frontiersman
Published on Monday, November 7, 2011 8:05 PM AKST

PALMER — Palmer head coach Steve Reynolds admits he sometimes overlooks Palmer senior setter Jenna Arlow.

It’s nothing against Arlow, a three-year varsity player and two-year starter. Reynolds simply knows he doesn’t have to worry about the senior, who was named the Northern Lights Conference North Division Player of the Year Saturday night.

“As a coach you tend to focus on the glaring weaknesses, or the players who need the most help,” Reynolds said. “Sometimes we don’t spend enough time on the ones who are doing a nice job.”

Arlow is a primary reason why the Moose have been the top team in the NLC for the last three years. Saturday, she helped lead Palmer to its third straight NLC title.

Arlow is a leader, and among the top setters Reynolds has coached, he said.

“She’s just the quiet, confident type,” Reynolds said. “She has wonderful hands. She’s a great setter, and has been since she was in junior high.”

Reynolds said Arlow’s serve is also a strength.

“She’s had a tough serve for years. She gives people troubles,” Reynolds said. “One thing that goes unnoticed a lot is if you serve tough, even if you’re not getting aces, you’re keeping the other team back on their heels. That’s huge.”

Arlow is one of a pair of Valley players and five Mat-Su athletes to be named first-team All-Northern Lights Conference.

Palmer senior Morgan Morfe, Colony junior Mary Klapperich and Wasilla seniors Haley Taylor and Jolee Fife were also named on the first team.

Wasilla senior Kayla Bell, Colony junior Allison Leigh and Palmer junior Lily Cullers were also named to the second team.

Reynolds was named the NLC Coach of the Year for the third time in his 12 years as the Moose mentor.

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

All-Northern Lights Conference

North Division Player of Year:

Jenna Arlow, Palmer

South Division Player of Year:

Amanda McDowell, Skyview

Coach of the Year:

Steve Reynolds, Palmer.

First-team All-NLC:

Carole Lampl, Kodiak; Jenna Arlow, Palmer; Haley Taylor, Wasilla; Amanda McDowell, Skyview; Kallee Skjold, Soldotna; Jolee Fife, Wasilla; Kylee Woodford, Soldotna; Mary Klapperich, Colony; Hannah Wandersee, Kodiak; Morgan Morfe, Palmer.

Second-team All-NLC:

Marlee Cunningham, Skyview; Lauren Cashman, Homer; Kayla Bell, Wasilla; Britanie Whipple, Skyview; Brooke DeVaney, Homer; Mary Hauptman, Skyview; Heidi Westernman, Soldotna; Allison Leigh, Colony; Monya Wandersee, Kodiak; Lily Cullers, Palmer.