Instant syrup: Wolves make quick meal of Maples
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
BIRMINGHAM — The question that most around the OAA volleyball circles wondered this year was will Clarkston rebuild or reload? So far the question has definitely been reload.
The Wolves, who had six players off last year’s team find their way onto a college roster this season and two more players from the 2009 squad now playing collegiately, continued their torrid start Thursday, scorching host Birmingham Seaholm, 3-0, in an OAA Red Division volleyball match.
Clarkston, which is off to a 20-0-0 start for the first time in school history, including 2-0 in league play, dominated the Maples and every facet of the game. The 25-11, 25-17, 25-16 match came to an end in just a mere 46 minutes.
SETTING THE TABLE: Clarkston's Brianna Frakes (No. 12) raises the ball for middle hitter Stephanie Marani during Thursday's OAA Red Division sweep of Birmingham Seaholm. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
Stephanie Mirani led the Wolves with seven kills and five blocks, Rachel Dickerson added six kills and four blocks and Maddie Lightfoot scooped up 12 digs for the Wolves, who have proven to be hard to defend with no dominant players but great balance.
“We had Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for this,” offered Clarkston coach Kelly Avenall, who graduated seven players total. “I only had five kids returning and I think a lot our kids didn’t know the atmosphere, the energy level (of a big league) game). We just tried to pump them up all week for that. We were expecting a good match.”
Seaholm led 1-0 in all three games but quickly faltered after that point. In fact, Clarkston led 14-4 in Game 1 to set the tone for the swift affair. Lightfoot served uop eight straight quality serves, including two aces and that fed into a 9-0 run.
Clarkston kept the ball away from Seaholm 6-foot-1 standout Paige Neuenfeldt, a Miss Volleyball candidate headed for North Carolina. Neuenfeldt finished a quiet night with eight kills and four digs. Freshman Paige Zywick added 14 assists for the Maples (15-12-0, 0-1).
In Game 2, Clarkston slowly pulled away, turning an 11-7 lead into a 20-12 advantage. A kill from Brianna Frakes found the floor to end the second game.
The third game again saw the Wolves slowly hound their prey. A 10-7 lead quickly turned into a19-12 advantage. After Seaholm closed to with 21-15, Clarkston closed out with a 4-1 run, capped by a service point from Angela Niezgoda and a kill from Emily Popp.
“I think we did a good job with our game plan of keeping them scrambling on serve receive. We actually a good serving team and that actually helps us to where we’re at today,” offered Avenall. “It was good times for us.”
RISE AGAINST: Clarkston's Emily Popp (No. 2) attempts this kill against Birmingham Seaholm's Kathy Quigley. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
While Clarkston was finding points in all different ways, Seaholm self destructed, with mishaps on serve receive, hitting errors and a dozen serving errors.
“I felt that their hearts are there, but today we didn’t show up,” admitted Seaholm coach Heather Lippert. “Clarkston I didn’t think they were over the top, like some years when they are awesome. But we didn’t show up, plain and simple. Our best kids did not show up.”
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Category: Clarkston, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps
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