GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Oakland Christian clicks on all cylinders in winning regional crown
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
AUBURN HILLS — Even with the type of season that Auburn Hills Oakland Christian has displayed on the volleyball court, first-year coach Brian Theut wasn’t sure if he’s had everybody on the same page at the same time this season.
That changed Thursday night.
The Division 4 ninth-ranked Lancers were firing on all cylinders and wrote another chapter of success with a 3-0 victory over Allen Park Inter-City Baptist in the regional finals on Oakland Christian’s home floor.
The Lancers prevailed in 25-16, 25-13, 25-17 fashion to win their first regional since 2016 and 11th overall — all since 1998.
“I think we were finally all on the same page,” said Theut. “We’ve had games were where played well, but in some games certain girls played well. I thought we were really clicking.”
Highly-motivated, Oakland Christian advances to the state quarterfinals and will face Ubly at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Marlette High School with a Final Fourth berth in Battle Creek on the line. Ubly is listed as honorable mention in the final regular season D-4 MIVCA rankings.
The Lancers last won a regional four years ago and that was with a roster of nine seniors. Oakland Christian dropped down somewhat after that and moved to the MIAC Red Division the past two seasons, a league it won a year ago.
This year the Lancers moved back up to its former spot in the MIAC Blue Division, which it won with a 10-0 record. The Lancers (19-3-0) have only lost to respectable programs this season — one was to Division 1 state quarterfinalist Grand Blanc — and have followed that up with district and regional titles.
“This was one of our goals,” said Theut. “When I took over this team I saw there was a lot of experience, a lot of talent for a Division 4 school. I thought if we could stay healthy and catch a few breaks we could make a run.”
Oakland Christian looked like a team of destiny in topping MIAC Red Division champion Inter-City Baptist in straight sets, playing one of its most complete games.
“I thought our libero, (junior) Olivia Colletti, was just killing it out there, making plays all over the place,” said Theut. “She played with a lot of energy. Our setter (senior Katie Hopkins) was solid as she has been all season and our hitters stepped up.”
Senior Kaylee Page led the way with 20 kills and four service aces. Hopkins supplied 47 assists, Colletti chipped in with 15 digs and five aces, junior Anna Frazee provided 10 kills and six blocks, and junior Micah Tyson had 17 kills in a well-balanced effort for Oakland Christian.
“I think to make it to the Final Four, which is our goal, you have to be playing your best volleyball and peaking at the right time,” noted Theut. “I think we saw that against Inter-City. We need to keep that going.”
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