Facing Waterford Mott was no cup of cappuccino, but the Wolves took their 3-0 win over the Corsairs as a quick pick-me-up prior to the Oakland Activities Association tournament days later.
Clarkston used Senior Night as their platform for a 25-6, 25-12, 25-17 win in straight sets over the winless Corsairs from OAA II. The relaxed atmosphere of the night and the competition allowed for a larger rotation by the Wolves.
‘It’s nice to win in three and get everybody in. It gives us confidence going into the league tournament,? Clarkston coach Kelly Avenall said.
‘It was really spread out in the way they played and that’s good,? she added.
Katelyn Coates, Juliann Gillespie and Lindsay Sawyer each had five kills. Sawyer also had three blocks to her credit.
‘She forces others to hit over and around her and in between her if they can. She’s definitely a presence even if she doesn’t always tally up those stats,? Avenall said.
After a blowout first game, the Corsairs got within seven points at 17-10, but Emily Parkin’s seven straight service points and a long Mott serve gave Clarkston the second game. Parkin recorded three aces during the match.
The Corsairs (0-23) made more out of the third game, but the Wolves (15-11-2) pulled away after taking a 9-8 lead. Unforced Corsairs errors leading to easy Clarkston points aided the Wolves as they took over the game.
‘The first game was a warm up and we got better as the games went on and it’s too bad it couldn’t have lasted longer,? Corsairs coach Jennifer Roethlisberger said.
Mott changed things around a bit, regrouping the offensive attack in the middle was one element of the transformation.
‘They’re switching as to where they went to hit when they’re in the front,? Roethlisberger said.
‘They are all really happy and they feel like this is a lot better.?
One of those hitters, Heather Marks had three kills, four aces and four digs.
Clarkston also had time to work on different offensive sets Sawyer and Gillespie have been perfecting in recent practices.
Clarkston faces Lake Orion in Dragon Country on Feb. 22 and they will go to Brandon on Feb. 26. Clarkston is also taking part in the Bloomfield Hills Andover Invitational on Feb. 24.