Spikers take over at Andover Invitational

Spikers won their second tournament on Saturday during the Andover Invitational.
They had beaten six teams before competing against Class B State Champions Notre Dame Prep in the final round.
The Wolves stayed true to their goal of placing first in their tournament plays by keeping Notre Dame low on the scoreboard.
They beat them in two sets, 25-9 and 25-11.
‘They play so well as a team,? said Wolves Varsity Volleyball Coach Kelly Avenall. ‘Everybody works together to make it successful. They are definitely exceeding what I expected.?
The leading players for the seven games were Lauren Gardner with 34 kills and 62 digs, Allison Reis 40 kills and ten aces, and Jenna Coates 102 digs and ten aces.
‘That was our second tournament win. We are exactly where the girls should be.?
Prior to the tournament, the girls shut out league opponent Troy-Athens to hold onto first.
‘I was expecting that to be a different match,? said Avenall. ‘I don’t know if they were just having a down night. We played really well against them.?
Gardner had ten kills and Coates 35 digs.
The girls continued on Thursday against a tough Grand Blanc team, but ended it with another shut-out, 3-0.
Clarkston ended the first set, 25-20 and the Bobcats began the next set in the lead.
A block from Alexis Egler put an end to a close set, 25-23.
Both teams remained close in points in the last set, but near the end Clarkston pulled ahead by three points and kept the Bobcats from scoring, 25-22.
‘I think we played well,? said Avenall. ‘A couple things we’re not used to were off-speed shots and just playing that kind of defense. Then they played up the middle. We don’t see that a lot, though we probably will later in the season. So it was good to see tonight.?
For the game, Gardner had nine kills and ten digs, Egler had four aces and 24 assists, and Coates had 22 digs.
The girls played Lake Orion on Tuesday night and will be getting ready for their upcoming OAA League Tournament on Saturday.
They are seated in first going into the tournament and will have to make it to the finals to remain in first place.
‘They have to be on and can’t lose focus,? said Avenall.
The tournament begins at 12 p.m. and is held at Lake Orion High School.