GIRLS VOLLEYBALL REGIONALS: Clarkston hammers Eisenhower to advance to Sweet 16
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCHESTER — Good teams find weaknesses in the opponent and simply try to expose them.
Clarkston did just that Tuesday in its Class A girls volleyball regional semifinal at Rochester High — in just a mere 41 minutes.
Like a fine-tuned machine, the second-ranked Wolves went to the outside to thwart unranked Utica Eisenhower, 3-0, to advance to the regional finals for the fourth time in five years.
Clarkston, which posted scores of 25-9, 25-23, 25-14, will face Birmingham Seaholm at 7 p.m. Thursday at Rochester for the regional championship.
“I really thought the difference was the first game,” offered Clarkston coach Kelly Avenall. “We came out really aggressive. We really came after them in the first game. We blocked well and we saw some things (in their defense) and really went after those spots.”
Clarkston wasted no time in gaining an upper hand on the Eagles (35-11-2), who had won their first league and district crowns in several years. The Wolves rolled out to a quick 15-5 lead before Game 1 was even 10 minutes old and never allowed Eisenhower to make a threat in the opener.
The second game, Eisenhower finally got untracked with leads of 17-15 and 21-19. The Wolves had the answer, closing with a 6-2 run that featured kills from three different players and a service point by Brianna Frakes.
In Game 3, Clarkston quickly turned a 2-2 tie into an 8-3 lead and gradually pulled away from there. The advantage ballooned up to 19-10 and Eisenhower could never gain any type of long-term momentum.
“I think we don’t get rattled too easily,” offered Avenall. “When this team is down by a game or down by a couple of points, it does not rattle them too much. They just keep working.”
STANDING TALL: Clarkston’s Emily Malinowski (No. 20) and Katie Chadwell block Utica Eisenhower’s Katelyn Senkus during Tuesday’s Class A regional semifinal. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
Rachel Dickerson led a balanced effort with 13 kills, while Frakes added 22 assists for the Wolves (53-6-1), who have only lost once in the past month.
“They are an experienced team and when we took the lead on them it didn’t scare them,” said Eisenhower coach Caitlin Russo. “I think it might have been different if we could have won the second game. But it’s a whole lot easier to play when its 1-1 instead of being down 2-0.”
Meghan Kennelly had 10 kills and 13 digs, Hailee Seifert added eight kills and 13 digs and Taylor Stewart had 26 assists for Eisenhower.
For Clarkston, they will be going after their third straight regional title. The Wolves will face Seaholm, which has made its longest run in years.
“That’s something that we’re going to talk about,” said Avenall of Seaholm’s unexpected run. “I think they’re definitely playing a lot better than any of the three times we’ve faced them. That’s something that we’re going to have to prepare for. Just watching them tonight, I think they’re playing with a lot more confidence than when we saw them. They bring a lot of spirit a lot of fire.”
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.
FOR MORE VOLLEYBALL COVERAGE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Volleyball&x=0&y=9
Have photos or video of this event that you wish to share? E-mail pertinent information to www.northoaklandsports.com Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com.
Category: Clarkston, Featured Articles, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Top Stories
