By Wendi Reardon PriceStaff Writer
wprice@mihomepaper.com
WEST BLOOMFIELD — The Wolves wrapped the season in the MHSAA Division 1 Volleyball Regional Semifinal against Marian, 3-2, Nov. 12.
Marian opened the night winning the first two sets, 25-19, 25-22. The Clarkston Varsity Volleyball team tied the game winning the next two sets, 25-22, 25-16.
“I was really proud of how we battled back in sets three and four,” said Ali Smith, Wolves’ head coach. “The third and fourth sets, we served and passed way better than we did in the first and second sets. I was disappointed in our start in set five. Allie Davison (from Marian) went on a run and we could not pass/find a way to score. We took way too long, there was a lack of sense of urgency in the fifth set and we needed to get after it much earlier. But this is playoffs, people are going to recover and we needed a better result.”
The fifth set ended with Marian winning, 15-8.
Smith added the loss will help the returners for the next season.
“I think every postseason experience that the girls have is beneficial in the years to come,” she said. “We have several kids that are roster who have not competed in the postseason until this year so that will help. I believe we have a lot of talent. We have a lot of kids with a lot of grit, and a lot of kids with a lot of intention for next year so I’m excited about the roster.

“But I’m also in a phase of mourning right now,” she continued. “Because our senior class was probably the best overall senior class that we’ve had at Clarkston since I have been here. These kids were so dedicated and just lived, breathed Clarkston volleyball. I’m going to really miss those kids, but I’m also super excited about the future.”
The Wolves graduate five seniors – Skylar Alvarez, Isabelle Henry, Rylee Hunt, Morgan Lozzi and Addison Newblatt.
“The legacy that the senior class from this year leaves behind is a legacy of grittiness, a legacy of things were not always easy for us, but we found a way to make it happen and we found a way to persevere,” Smith said. “Because of those reasons I have the utmost respect for them as players and as human beings.”
The Wolves finished the season with an overall record 29-7. They were undefeated in the OAA Red League with a 8-0 record to finish the season as league champions and district champions.
“I was really proud of this group overall,” Smith said about the season. “We had a lot of new kids. The dynamics and the roles were very different this year than they were last year. It was great to see kids that had been in it before, and also kind of taught the kids that were new to our roster. Those things are all that I’m very proud. I would have liked to get a few more big wins. But, we worked really hard at improving ourselves and becoming more solid in the serve/pass game and just becoming more consistent. I think that’s something that everyone will see from the Clarkston teams in years to come.”

  Clarkston Athletics, Volleyball