By Wendi Reardon Price
Staff Writer
wprice@mihomepaper.com
HOLLY — Clarkston Varsity Volleyball begins their post-season journey this week as they play in the district playoffs at Holly High School.
The Wolves finished the regular season as OAA Red champions after going undefeated in the league, 8-0, with the last win in the league over Stoney Creek, Oct. 17.
They followed it with close battle against Northville, winning in the fifth set, 3-2, Oct. 24.
“We got a really great win,” said Ali Smith, head coach. “It was awesome. They have been consistently ranked No. 2 all season. They are really good. They have several seniors so they are experienced. They have a very talented and experienced team. We were able to run away with a fifth set win.”
Northville, who finished in the Final Four the last two seasons, won the first set, 25-22. The Wolves took the next two sets, 25-23 and 25-22. The Mustangs tied it up with a 25-17 win in the fourth set. Clarkston won the last set, 16-14.
Senior Addison Newblatt had 16 kills and 13 digs. Senior Isabelle Henry had 13 kills. Sophomore Josie Seets had ten kills and two blocks. Sophomore Marlie Smith had four aces, nine digs and 43 assists. Senior Rylee Hunt had four blocks. Senior Morgan Lozzi had 13 digs. Senior Skylar Alvarez had 14 digs. Sophomore Maya Kuebler had 12 digs.
Smith added the win against Northville helped prepare the team for playoffs.
“It was a great confidence building win for us,” she said. “We have gotten really close with a lot of top ten teams in the state, but have had a hard time getting over the top of that. I think that win allows us to know we can do it, we can beat the best teams in the state and find ways to win in those situations.”
Smith shared the Wolves’ passing is going well right now, and the players are the most connected they have been all season.
“We have worked out a lot of kinks in our offense and that’s gotten a lot smoother,” she said. “They play with a tremendous amount of confidence and calmness right now.”
The Wolves played in a tournament in Novi on Saturday against teams in the region. Smith shared it’s an opportunity for coaches to see everyone so they can choose who receives All-Region accolades.
“We are excited to be there,” Smith said. “It will be another competitive day and gives us another day to find what we can fine tune going into the post-season. It will be a real productive Saturday.”
The Wolves play the MHSAA Division 1 Volleyball District 26 semifinal on Wednesday, Nov. 6 against the Oxford/Waterford Kettering winner at 5 p.m.
“Everyone is going to give us their best match,” Smith said. “We have experienced that all year. We have to be ready for whichever team we play and their best volleyball.”
The district final is Thursday at 6 p.m.
The winner moves on to play in the regional semifinal at West Bloomfield, on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m.

  Clarkston Athletics, Volleyball