Breaking the seal: Clarkston edges Canton in wild quarterfinal game to keep title hopes alive
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
FENTON — Any volleyball team that makes a long run to the Final Four must enjoy a little bit of luck along way. Clarkston feels quite blessed after Tuesday’s marathon battle.
A close call in Game 5 was ruled in Clarkston’s favor and the Wolves went on to topple Plymouth Canton, 3-2, in a Class A girls volleyball state quarterfinal at Fenton High School.
Clarkston won the first two games, 28-26 and 25-21, only to see Canton claw back to take the next two games, 25-18, 25-21 and force a game-deciding Game 5. Clarkston prevailed in the nailbiter,16-14.
The Wolves advance to the Final Four for the first time in school history, but not without plenty of drama, as their match with Canton lasted 2 hours and 11 minutes and saw more twists and turns than a roller coaster at Cedar Point or Kings Island.
In an ironic twist, Clarkston will face league rival Lake Orion in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Thursday at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena. The Dragons battled back with a 3-2 victory over Macomb Dakota in another quarterfinal Tuesday.
YES: Clarkston's Brianna Frakes (middle) is great by Maddie Lightfoot (right) and RachelDickerson after the Wovles posted a thrilling, 3-2, triumph over Plymouth Canton at Tuesday's Class A state quarterfinals. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
Canton, which finished 42-10-1, thought it had actually won the match in Game 5 following Eric den Boer’s attack. The Chiefs thought it touched a Clarkston’s player’s finger and fell just out of bounds. The judge ruled a no-touch in Clarkston’s favor, tying the fifth game at 14-14.
Clarkston’s Rachel Dickerson responded with a pair of back-breaking kills to steal the set and send the Wolves to Battle Creek.
“That was close, too close,” offered Clarkston coach Kelly Avenall. “It could have gone every way.”
Dickerson helped take advantage of the new life after the ruling.
“I think we had the mindset that we didn’t want to go home,” said Dickerson. “We thought it was over (because they were celebrating). We all thought it was game. It was huge (call). That was the turning point right there.”
Clarkston lost in the quarterfinals twice before, with those defeats coming in 1976 and 2010. The Wolves, who have won districts in 11 of the past 17 seasons, found a way to push through this time around to earn their first-ever Final Four ticket.
“I think we finally broke the seal,” smiled Avenall, whose team lost 3-1 to Farmington Hills Mercy in last year’s quarterfinals. “I am so happy for this team. We just beat a very good team. I watched Canton on film. They didn’t hit like that in the games we saw.”
Canton coach Mary Kryska felt it was game of an inch and she was convinced that Clarkston did touch the ball on the pivotal Game 5 play.
“Beyond it being in, I thought there was a touch, hit off her shoulder, and it’s unfortunate that (play) was the game decider,” beamed Kryska. “Again I’m not the line judge, so you have to go with it. It is what it is.
“I can’t be more proud of our team for everything that we have accomplished this year,” she continued. “We can’t start hanging our heads down. We did a great job this entire season. We made history for Canton and it’s been a great ride.”
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Clarkston's Sarah Bullen records this block in the Wolves' quarterfinals win Tuesday, which sends Clarkston to the Final Four for the first time in school history. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
Alaina Turner, headed for Dayton next school year, led Canton with 21 kills. Kristen Muir added 11 kills and 34 digs, den Boer slammed 11 kills and Lauren Martin dished out 53 assists for the Chiefs.
Turner, Muir, den Moer and Martin helped Canton claw back from the early 2-0 deficit. Clarkston won the first two games and held leads of 14-10 and 15-12 in Game 3 before the Chiefs finally got untracked.
Canton closed Game 3 with a 13-3 run to force a Game 4, where Martin had two service points and den Boer and Turner had two kills apiece in the spurt.
In the fourth game, Canton built a 12-4 lead only to see Clarkston fight back and draw even at 15-15. The Chiefs closed again with a 10-6 run, anchored by three more kills from Turner and a set clinching slam by Maggie Deloy.
In the fifth game, the two teams went back and forth, with Canton holding a 4-0 lead only to see Clarkston pull a reversal and go up 12-10. Turner’s final kill tied the game at 13-13.
Stephanie Marani had 21 kills and five blocks for Clarkston. Dickerson and Kaley Konjarevich added 17 kills apiece for the Wolves and Maddie Lightoot picked up 23 digs in the school’s biggest win on the volleyball court.
“It feels amazing,” said Lightfoot. “We have never been this far before. This is the first time our school has won the quarterfinal. We didn’t just make it to a regional final, or (advance) to the quarterfinals now two times in a row. We are going to the (Final Four). And it’s amazing because we were supposed to be rebuilding this year. We weren’t even expected to win our league, let alone make it to Battle Creek. I don’t think a lot of people thought we’d be here”
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Category: Clarkston, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps
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Clarkston edges Canton for first Final Four ticket: http://northoaklandsports.com/2011/11/16/breaking-the-seal-clarkston-edges-canton-in-wild-quarterfinal-game-to-keep-title-hopes-alive/
Lake Orion advances to Final Four for first time in 23 years: http://northoaklandsports.com/2011/11/16/long-time-coming-dragons-overcome-slow-start-dakota-to-reach-semifinals-for-first-time-in-23-years/
VOLLEYBALL: Oakland Christian takes down Lutheran Northwest: LINK: http://northoaklandsports.com/2011/11/01/oakland-christian-holds-off-lutheran-northwest/
Swinging sweet revenge: Lake Orion stuns two-time defending state champion Birmingham Marian: http://northoaklandsports.com/2011/11/09/swinging-some-revenge-dragons-stun-defending-state-champion-marian/
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