On Senior Night, the girls Varsity Volleyball team continued to serve up winning matches last Tuesday, beating Lake Orion in three sets.
Seniors Jilian Locricchio, Katelyn Coates, Emily Parkin and Juliann Gillespie were honored before the match began. Their parents escorted them across the Clarkston High School gym as the announcer introduced each player to the audience.
“As far as all of the seniors, they are a great bunch of leaders, they are very positive, upbeat with kids, I couldn’t ask for better role models,” said Coach Kelly Avenall.
“They have been positive all year ? focused. I think the underclassmen and just everyone in the program has learned a lot from them. One of the seniors has been playing for three years. She (Juliann Gillespie) is the one that got hurt and hasn’t been playing much because she just got off the injured list. She started for me as a sophomore. She started the past two years, its been rough for her this year as a senior.”
In the first set of the game, Lake Orion stayed within a few points of Clarkston. After a serve from Katelyn Coates and a few misses from Lake Orion, Clarkston won the set 25-21.
With the second set, the Wolves remained ahead the whole time. With Lake Orion at eight points and Clarkston ahead with 16, Clarkston picked up a faster pace as they added nine more points to the scoreboard, with Lake Orion only adding three.
In the final set, the Dragons gave the Wolves more of a push as they kept the ball in the air and attempted to keep ahead in points. The Wolves fought back, matching point for point. In the end, the Wolves won the close set with 25-21.
With three sets won, Clarkston brought their overall record for the team 25-9-1.
“They played hard and focused. Right where I want them to be right at this time of year,” Avenall said.
For Clarkston, Johanna Kupe had six kills and six blocks. Jilian Locricchio had seven kills. Emily Parkin had 21 assists.
For Lake Orion, Katelyn VanHouse had seven kills. Alicia Roth had 21 digs. Ashley Bringard had 11 of 11 serving, serving one ace overall for a record of 19-10-7
“(We) hope to play Clarkston again (in the District Tournament),” said Lake Orion’s coach Bob Howey. “We didn’t show them how good we can play.”
The Wolves will play Waterford Mott in the District Tournament this Thursday. The tournament begins at 5 p.m. at Lake Orion High School.