BY ED DAVIS
Clarkston News Sports Writer
The Clarkston High School volleyball team started the season under a new coach in Kelly Avenall. She said she didn’t really know what to expect in her debut season, which ended Saturday in a regional semifinal match against Okemos March 13 at Howell High School.
The Wolves lost in three games 15-9, 9-15, 12-15 and finished the season 25-12-2 overall. Clarkston captured a share of the OAA I league title this year and won its second consecutive district title.
The Wolves jumped out to 4-0 leads in the first two games, but each time the Wolves came out strong the Chieftains answered. In game one, Okemos rallied to tie the game at seven, but the Wolves hung on to put their opponents away, giving them a 1-0 lead in the match.
‘I really thought after that first game our confidence was up. I thought they’d come right back out there that second game,? Avenall said.
Game two started the same way with the Wolves jumping out to an early lead. However, the Wolves then gave up six unanswered points before regaining a lead at 8-7. Clarkston would only score one more point the rest of the game setting up for an exciting rubber match in game three. Clarkston got up early, 2-0, but then gave up another six-point run to Okemos. The Wolves then cut the deficit to three on a great kill by junior Stephanie Parkin, who played well all day for Clarkston. Okemos however answered right back and extended its lead to 13-8, putting them only two points away from the regional final. However, the Wolves showed resolve giving themselves a chance as they cut the lead to 14-12 on another kill by Parkin.
During the Wolves? last time out Avenall spoke to her team, specifically to her seniors. ‘I just told them they need to be leaders out there and they need to play their hearts out. It might be the last time they were out on the floor. I know that was on their mind,? Avenall said.
However, that was the last point Clarkston would score in Avenall’s first season as head coach.
‘They blocked us big. Our passing, I thought, was awesome, but we had a hard time putting the ball on the floor,? Avenall said.
The Chieftains scored most of their points when Parkin and Ashley Hudson rotated to the back row, freeing up the middle of the floor, which Okemos exploited during much of the match.
‘That’s the weakest part of our rotation, and that’s where they scored most of their points. We need that middle to be a little bit bigger next year.?
Avenall complemented the play of Stephanie Betzing and Parkin after the match.
‘I think she (Betzing) really played well. We needed her to play well,? Avenall said. ‘Parkin I think had an awesome game. Every ball she hit went to the floor almost. They couldn’t block her.?
Parkin finished with 14 kills, while Hudson had 11. Setter Colby Gardner had 30 assists. Hudson and Gardner are two of six seniors on the team. Other seniors include Ashley Bramble, Caitlin McLean, Lindsey Bramble, Megan Garrett and Heather Colpaert.
‘We’re going to miss them. We’ve got a couple of spots we’re going to have a hard time filling. That’s something I’ve got to think about. Colby’s going to be missed big time. She’s one of the toughest setters I’ve seen. She’s smart and sees a lot of things out there. Ashley and Caitlin are going to be missed on the outside too.?
‘Going in, I didn’t know where we’d end up. I don’t take all the credit by any means,? Avenall said. ‘Gordie (Richardson) trained all these girls. I just kind of took over where he left off. They’re a great group of kids. They played hard.?