Spikers got one step closer to their goal of getting to regionals on Monday night.
In the first round of the MHSAA district playoffs, they defeated Brandon, 3-0.
‘We played well,? said Varsity Volleyball Coach Kelly Avenall. ‘I was afraid they would go flat, but they stayed focused. There wasn’t a ball we couldn’t block or touch, which made it easier for defense.?
Avenall warned the girls it was a new beginning before they went into districts.
‘Everyone is in the same boat now. You lose, you are done.?
Jenna Coates had 30 digs and three aces. Allison Reis had 13 kills. Lauren Gardner and Alyssa Craft each had ten kills.
The win brought the girls overall record to 42-6-1.
The girls will play Lake Orion in the next round on Wednesday. They have previously beaten the Dragons twice.
The girls ended their regular season last week with a win over West Bloomfield and winning their last tournament for the season.
They celebrated Senior Night by defeating West Bloomfield on Oct. 25, 3-0.
Wolves were quick to get the lead in the first set and continued to drive a distance in the points until they won, 25-6.
The Lakers took the lead in the next match and for a while the points remained close.
Clarkston gained the lead when West Bloomfield was unable to return a serve from Lauren Gardner.
Moments later a combined block from Alyssa Craft and Alexis Egler brought the girls one point away from winning the set.
Egler hit the ball over net and the Lakers lost, 25-20.
The Wolves quickly took control of the third set and hold onto it until the end, 25-15.
‘I knew our adrenaline would be rushing because it was senior night and it means a lot,? said Gardner. ‘It would be our last hoorah before districts. I thought the game went really well. We let them in the second game, which we shouldn’t have. But we came back with just as much force as we did in game one.?
During the game Coates had 30 digs and 4 aces while Gardner had 12 kills and Kelley Croll had seven kills.
They won their third and final tournament on Saturday.
The girls left the Kettering Invitational undefeated after beating Canton in the semi-finals and Farmington Hills Mercy in the finals. They were 6-0 for the day.
During the day Coates had 138 digs and five aces, Reis 43 kills and four aces, and Croll had 27 kills.
‘Every year I have goals for the team and they have goals for themselves,? said Avenall. ‘Any goal I have given them, they have met. They play with heart and determination. Not just during games but at practice, too.?
The next round of districts is on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Waterford Kettering High School.
Check Wolfpack Update on ClarkstonNews.com to see how the girls did.
The final round of district playoffs will be on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Ketteri