Rebounding quickly from a third-set loss, the Clipper varsity volleyball team dispatched host St. Clair 3-1 on Friday.
It was the same result as when the Clippers hosted the Cyclones in the season opener.
“We just had to get our energy up,” said senior outside hitter Halle McCabe, who, mixing soft tips with hard kills, dropped down 18 winners. "The campfire (area in front of the net where teams sometimes get caught looking) was wide open, but their defense was really good. Their blocking was really good. We just had to find a way around it.”
The Clippers, coming off a 3-0 victory over Martin County West 24 hours earlier, gave up the first two points in game one, but Grayce Kortuem’s kill was the starting gun to a six-point spurt for a lead they would never surrender.
Down the stretch, Jordyn Klingel served up an ace for a 20-15 Cleveland advantage. Working in concert up front, McCabe and Kortuem each uncoiled a kill, and Taylin Gosch pushed the ball into an open chunk of real estate to extend the Clipper lead.
Following another kill by McCabe, the Clippers triumphed 25-17 after Emily Kern laid down her sixth kill of the game.
With the school preparing for distance learning and sports tentative, it was a stressful week, said head coach Bree Meyer. Having fun on the volleyball court, almost as normal, helped relive some of the tension.
“The girls were really excited. They were really excited to have some fans come too.”
Down 17-10 in the second game, St. Clair went on the attack for five-straight points before socking a serve into the webbing, but Kern dropped in three ace serves after that to extend the Orange & Black lead.
Trailing 22-16, the Cyclones mixed up their offense to score seven of the next eight points before losing the ball out of bounds. The Clippers got caught in the net on the next point but on a McCabe ace tip, escaped with a 25-23 victory.
A McCabe ace hit was the first point of game three, but with a steady dose of kills, ace serves and ace blocks, St. Clair took a 12-5 lead. Later, the Clippers rallied for six-straight points to pull ahead 15-14, but the Cyclones scored the ensuing five points with the first three on Clipper miscues.
With the score deadlocked at 21, Laci Hollerich tipped the ball to a vacant area just inside the left line, but capitalizing on Clipper errors the Cyclones won the next two points. McCabe spiked a kill for a 24-23 Cleveland lead, but the Clippers made two more goofs before St. Clair punctuated the 26-24 win with a kill.
St. Clair loitered around in game four until Kortuem’s kill put the Clippers up 8-7. McCabe mixed it up at the net for the next two points, and the Clipper’s never looked back. Sarena Remiger swatted a kill off the bench to put Cleveland up decisively, 24-14. The game ended 25-16 on an out-of-bounds serve.
Peppering the Cyclones with 16 kills and posting up a dozen blocks, Kern was a certified weapon. Harley Connor unleashed seven kills, Hollerich added six kills, and Kortuem chipped in five kills. Gosh totaled 39 assists.
Emma Sweere scooped 29 digs. Kern scraped 26 digs. Zoe Porter had 11 digs. Klingel was 11 of 12 from the service line. McCabe landed 16 of 19 serve attempts.
Game scores vs MCW in Trimont were 25-16, 25-17 and 25-17. Kern had 12 kills, 12 digs, four ace serves and four blocks. McCabe added nine kills and four service aces. Sweere made 14 digs. Gosch had 30 set assists and four digs.
“We got everyone in,” Meyer said. “Everyone had fun.”
After taking on Mankato Loyola on the road on Monday and again back at home on Thursday, the Clippers will have a chance to avenge their only 2020 loss when they host Alden-Conger on Friday.
Alden-Conger’s only set loss all year was to the Clippers. A win for Cleveland would likely mean a share of the Valley title.
Halle McCabe punches a hit.
Serena Williams bumps up a pass.
Emily Kern goes on the attack.
Jordyn Klingel digs up a serve receive.
Laci Hollerich goes up for what would be an ace block.
Taylin Gosh keeps the ball afloat.
Zoe Porter stretches for dig.
Grayce Kortuem pushes up a set.
Harley Connor tries to hit through a couple of St. Clair blockers.
The Clippers were excited to have a group of classmates in the house.