Clarkston avenges tough loss, makes regional final
WHITE LAKE >> It took 369 days, but Clarkston got the closure it had been looking for.
It was Nov. 4 of 2021 that the Wolves suffered a four-set loss to Lakeland on the Eagles’ home floor in a Division 1 district final.
That loss stuck with Clarkston throughout the offseason and the 2022 season.
As luck would have it, the Wolves found themselves back at Lakeland High School on Tuesday night, facing that same Eagles’ squad in a D1 regional semifinal.
That year-long frustration played itself out into a 25-22, 2521, 25-18 sweep for the fourthranked Wolves.
“We were definitely extra motivated this week,” Clarkston coach Ali Smith said. “I’ve thought about that match since last year. I’m really proud of these kids for buying into that mission of coming into (Lakeland) and having one job and completing the task.”
Clarkston (37-7) managed the sweep by finding ways to pull away late in each set. It was a balanced attack for the offense, with four different players consistently putting away points.
“Anytime you talk about your counterattack being balanced, it’s huge. When you have multiple kids in these conversations, usually the outcome is good,” Smith said.
In the first set, it was senior Annabelle Keller that propelled Clarkston to the win. Tied 18-18, Keller came up with her fifth kill of the set and started a 5-1 rally that kept the Wolves in the lead for the remainder of the set.
“Annabelle has fought for time all season and she’s play
ing her best volleyball right now,” Smith said of Keller. “She’s really giving us everything that she’s got and everything we need right now.”
In the second, senior middle Emma Larkins was the X-factor. She came through with four kills and timely blocks to help the Wolves take a 13-12 lead and push it to 19-13.
“Emma, every time she touched the ball it felt like she got a kill,” Smith said. “She was really dialed in and ready when she got set.”
Lakeland (37-4) would pick up an 11-10 lead in the third set as it hoped to extend the match, but Clarkston answered with a 7-1 rally to take the lead for the remainder of the match.
“All season long I have heard how this was (Clarkston’s) redemption match, so we expected them to be fired up and they definitely came out with a lot of energy,” Lakeland coach Meghan Polce said.
“We just missed a lot of closure late in sets. They have nothing to be ashamed of. They gave their all, we just couldn’t close the gap.”
Clarkston closed out the match representative of how it played all night. It scored five of the final six points, starting with a block, then kills from four different players. Cayla Cogan, Larkins, Keller and Paige Giehtbrock each recorded a kill during the closing points.
Cogan led Clarkston in kills on the night with 14, while Giehtbrock had 10 and Keller and Larkins each tallied nine.
Clarkston will be looking for more of that offensive balance on Thursday when it takes on Grand Blanc in the regional final at Lakeland High School.
“We need to continue to have a balanced attack. I also thought we passed really, really well tonight,” Smith said of Thursday’s regional final. “Our serving left a lot to be desired, so we will work on that and tweak some things. We got better as the night went on, but hopefully we can start strong from the service line on Thursday.”
Rachel Zurek led Lakeland on the night with 10 kills and three blocks, while Even Martin had eight kills.
Zurek and Martin are two of the seven seniors on the Lakeland squad that have helped build the Eagles into a championship program.
Along with Zurek and Martin, Kennedy Hudson, Melana Moore, Sofia Henry, Olivia Krill and Vayla Kammer have accomplished three consecutive district championships and two consecutive Lakes Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles.
“This has been a special group of girls I have coached. I’m definitely going to miss them all. It’s not going to be the same without them,” Polce said. “They set a standard within the program.
“Having them accomplish what they have in the last three years has set a whole new culture here. We’ve been the underdog here for a few years and that is something we have been working to fight and change, and I think they have done that.
“They put Lakeland on the map and I hope I can continue to build on the legacy they started.”