AOTW: Marani stands tall to give Clarkston some net presence

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

CLARKSTON — There has always been some confusion of how Stephanie Marani pronounces her last name.

“I say it one way, but a lot of people say it another way,” she laughed. “It doesn’t really bother me at all.”

While there may be some mystery on the exact annunciation of Marani’s name, there’s no mystery on Marani when it comes to her talents on the volleyball court. The 6-foot-1 senior middle hitter is one of the state’s top talents and she could end up high on the all-state teams when they are released next month.

The gifted three-year varsity player is also a fine student, carrying a 3.92 GPA into the latter semesters of her senior year at Clarkston High School.

She is in the acceptance part of getting into Princeton of the Ivy League.

While academics and team success is important to Marani, who has stepped up her leadership role to lead an always talented Wolves to another deep tournament run, individual stats are not. Clarkston graduated seven of 12 players from last year’s team, including six that are currently on college rosters abroad, and this year’s unit needed a leader.

“I think it’s the chemistry of the team. We all get along really well,” offered Marani of this year’s success, noting that the team checks the egos at the door and are not worried about individual acclaim. “I think for us seniors, we all needed to step up. We have a lot of good players, but a lot of them are young.

“I was a little nervous before the season. I didn’t know what to expect because we had lost over half of our team,” continued Marani. “I didn’t know the underclassmen that well. But I am proud of them of how they have stepped it up and how it has continued to be strong even though we lost so many players. We were able to recover from that quickly.

Marani is a powerful hitter but it is her defensive presence at the net that has opposing players second-guessing themselves on where they can or cannot hit the ball. Marani set the single-season school record last fall with 170 blocks and is well over 100 this season. She also ranks high on the team in kills and attacking percentage.

Marani and her third-ranked Wolves will take their unexpected but gaudy 53-5-0 record into Thursday’s regional final against unranked Midland. Clarkston, which is in the regional round for the 11^th time in 17 seasons and has won five straight OAA Red Division league titles, has exceeded expectations after losing four starters and seven players from the main rotation.

Marani and her teammates advanced all the way to the Elite Eight last November, eventually falling to Farmington Hills Mercy, 3-1. Mercy was the eventual state runner-up and still very much alive in this postseason as well.

The regional title was the school’s first since the Jimmy Carter administration.

“I think if we are all on our game, I think we have a chance,” she said. “I think we could be better than last year. We have to stay focused and take one game at a time. It was the first time that we won a regional last year in I think 34 years. We worked so hard and we were able to make a (long run). We hope to do it again this season.

Playing for Clarkston has been a great experience for Marani, who has enjoyed suiting up for a school that has compiled 144 wins in her three years on varsity.

“I think that (Clarkston) coach (Kelly) Avenall is really building a great program,” praised Marani. “She’s really coaching us well and encouraging us to do the right things. But we are able to get along really well and work together. We know each other’s weaknesses and strengths and that really helps.”

Marani, who is also in the marching band at school, wasn’t always the best in her class. She wasn’t always that good, to be honest. She was once cut from in middle school and even gave track and field a try as a high jumper and long jumper to try to find her athletics niche. That didn’t work out, either.

She decided to play club volleyball in the offseason and work on her volleyball game. Marani was always tall but found a unique route to success in volleyball.

“I never played basketball and I actually got cut from the seventh grade team,” she recalled. “That just motivated me. I came back and made the eighth grade team. That’s when I started to take it all seriously.”

Avenall, in her ninth season, is thankful to have player like Marani.

“She’s so gifted, especially on with her blocking abilities,” said Avenall. “Other teams don’t want to hit in her direction. She’s also a great kid. She’s become a leader on the court and is one of the best at her position.”

The winner of the top-ranked Mercy-Plymouth Canton regional final potentially awaits Clarkston if it can defeat Midland.

“That’s our goal. We’re going to try to win (the regional) again,” Marani smiled.

Playing percussion in the pits with the school’s band, Marani hopes to keep making some noise along with the rest of the Wolves for another week out on the volleyball court.

“I know we would love another shot (at Mercy) and maybe go farther than last year,” said Marani. “I think we have the talent to do it if we play at the top of our game.”

Just don’t ask others to say her name right.

To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com.  To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com . Follow us on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and more than a dozen other social media networks.

Tags: Athlete of the Week, Clarkston Girls Volleyball, featured, Stephanie Mirani

Category: BWW Athlete of the Week, Clarkston, High School, Prep Wraps