BY PAUL KAMPE
Clarkston News Staff Writer
Keeping their momentum from a weekend tournament championship, the Clarkston Wolves took down Bloomfield Hills Lahser 3-1, nearing last season’s record with more than a month remaining.
The Wolves (10-7-1, 2-3 OAA) started off slow, falling behind 11-3 in the first game, but rebounded to win 25-21 behind big kills from Marilynn Porritt and Juliann Gillespie.
The Knights (3-3, 1-3 OAA) took a close second game, 25-23, to even things up. The Wolves pulled away late in the third with Amanda Byrd (22/22, two aces) serving up the final five points for a 25-20 victory.
The final game was a much more decisive victory for Clarkston after it stayed on top, going up 15-13, for a 25-15 victory.
‘We were beating ourselves at the beginning (with) bad ball control, hitting the ball in the net and mental error we need to control,? Clarkston coach Kelly Avenall said.
‘That last game, our serving helped us. Some of our attackers starting swinging a little bit better and that started helping us too.
‘I told them, just two more wins and that’s going to equal what we had last year. I think they’re really improving’other than two matches this year, everything has gone the way I thought it would. There’s some younger kids starting to get more playing time and that’s what I expected for right now in the middle of the season,? Avenall said.
‘We’re where we want to be right now,? she added.
‘They played very well, but Clarkston just played a little bit better. There were some really hard fought games back and forth and little mistakes here and there add up to points,? Lahser coach Danelle Davison said.
‘When there are close games like that, you can’t let things like that go. Overall, both teams played really well.?
The Knights, a team with only four seniors, is learning the ropes, said Davison.
‘The team I have this year has improved at every single game they have played and they are a very young team.
‘It’s a young team and we’re growing and I think we’re doing a great job of it?
Juliann Gillespie and Marilynn Porritt had 13 and 12 kills respectively, while Byrd contributed 34 digs.
Byrd ran her streak to 67 consecutive successful serves against Lahser, and Avenall said Byrd is likely the team leader in aces.
‘Her serving has really helped us, she’s kept people scrambling all year. She’s got a weird type of floater serve that surprises people,? Avenall said.
Lucille Przybylski had two aces, Alexandra Rathman had 15 digs and Victoria Manix had nine kills.
Davison said Manix, a sophomore approaching six-feet tall is expected to be a mainstay for the Knights.
‘We’re definitely looking for her to be one of our future stars, she’s already developing into that.?
Look for the Wolves? results from the Grand Blanc Invitational on Jan. 13 at www.clarkstonnews.com. Clarkston’s next match after the invitational is not until Jan. 25 against Farmington Hills Harrison at home. The game starts directly following the 5:30 p.m. junior varsity match.