Clarkston took its 4-5 league record this season into the Oakland Activities Association tournament on Saturday at Farmington High School hoping to come out better off in the league than when they went in.
This year’s event is the first to weigh the nine teams place in the double-elimination tournament as 50 percent of their final standing in the league. Each team’s regular-season league score is also given a 50 percent value.
The Wolves entered the day as the fourth seeded team and finished in a tie for fifth place with Bloomfield Hills Lahser. Troy was the favorite to win the tournament and the Colts did so, followed by Rochester Adams, Farmington, and Birmingham Groves.
Clarkston lost to Groves in their first game, 8-25 and 23-25.
Clarkston coach Kelly Avenall said the team’s passing was the downfall against Falcons.
‘They weren’t communicating very well and (Groves) aced us three or four times. That doesn’t usually happen to us,? she said.
‘Even when they were giving us free balls, we weren’t able to get them up to the setter,? Avenall said.
‘We had to go to the outside hitter a lot and they (defensively) tend to camp out and block a lot.?
The Wolves were unable to get middle hitter Juliann Gillespie, a huge offensive factor for Clarkston this season, involved in the play, Avenall said.
The Wolves picked it up in the second game, dropping Troy Athens 25-23 in both sets.
‘That was our best hitting of the day,? Avenall said.
‘We had a little better ball control and passing the ball was a little bit better.?
The Wolves fell to Adams in their third game, 16-25 and 20-25.
‘The second game was closer, we had some really good rallies,? Avenall said.
‘Defensively, they were a little bit stronger than we were. They were getting to everything and digging it up. As hitters we were getting frustrated trying to find some holes in their defense and we weren’t able to find any.?
Amanda Byrd had 29 digs and Gillespie finished with 11 kills, five aces and five blocks.
The final OAA standings have not yet been determined due to a makeup game still to be played between Troy and Farmington Hills Harrison.