Spikers felt pressure from Rochester Adams after their first set in the first OAA Red league match of the season.
But the Lady Wolves grabbed the lead and won the first set 25-22. The girls won two more sets to win the game, 3-0.
“Rochester Adams played us tough,” said Kelly Avenall, Clarkston Girls Varsity Volleyball coach. “They were a good defensive team. They had the girls a little nervous the first game. They were frustrated a bit because it was hard to get a ball down on them and they played with a little more energy than us.”
With a break between the sets, the girls gathered for their next plan of action. Avenall also gave them a pep talk before they headed back out to the court.
“I told them everyone is gunning for them and they have to play with as much energy as everybody else,” she said. “They needed to pick up the intensity.”
They did – capturing the lead in the second set and holding on to it as they kept adding points to the board and ending the score, 25-12.
The next step went just as quickly, ending 25-16.
“I am happy with the win,” said Avenall. “It is still early in the season so there is still a lot to work on. I don’t want to take anything away from Adams. They came out ready to play us.”
Kaley Konjarevich had nine kills during the game and Stephanie Marani had seven kills.
Maddie Lightfoot had 15 digs.
“She is a great floor leader,” Avenall said, adding Lightfoot helped during the first set.
“She knew watching the first game. Some of them with their youth, they don’t understand a game like that can go either way. Maddie understands that and she tries to get them to buckle down a little more. She is the one who is going to all year keep the kids up and keep them fighting. I definitely saw that with her.”
The girls won the Grand Blanc tournament on Saturday, going undefeated in all five of their games. They beat Brighton in the final round, 25-19 and 25-16.
Konjarevich led the team with 37 kills and Rachel Dickerson added 35 kills. Lightfoot had 63 digs.
The Lady Wolves look to add a third tournament win when they head to the Flushing Invitational on Saturday. First, they head to Seaholm for a OAA Red game to continue their league play and add another win to their current 19-0 overall record.
Clarkston hosts their home opener next Tuesday against Farmington. JV begins at 5:30 p.m., varsity follows.