The Clipper volleyball team comes together one last time after beating host LCWM

For the Cleveland volleyball team, evaluating the 2020 season will be like trying to decide if the proverbial glass is half full…or half empty.

On the positive side the Clippers’ 11-1 record was the best in the Valley Conference. They avenged their only loss when they beat Alden-Conger on Thursday.  Leaving their mark in the existing Cleveland gym, they won the last varsity volleyball game that will be played there and kept an over two-year home winning streak alive.

And, most importantly, they got a season in, even finishing it with a victory on Friday when they beat host LCWM 3-1.

On the downside, the Clippers officially finished third in the Valley—two places back from last year—and second behind Alden-Conger in the East sub conference. They likely would have made a nice run in the subsection, but post-season play was canceled. 

As the season wound down, they missed Brianna Connor, who was stuck at home. But as the bus left Cleveland for Lake Crystal, they happened to see the senior hitter on a walk outside. 

On its last day together, the tight-knit organization was complete, even if at a distance and just for an instant.

Halle McCabe and Serena Williams, who made up the rest of the senior trio, reflected the mixed sentiment.

“It was still good, but we should have been first or second,” said McCabe, “but I am just glad we had somewhat of a season. In the beginning, in September, I didn’t even know if we were going to have volleyball, and that just broke my heart because I wasn’t playing last year…with Kenna (McKenna Robb) and Lexi (Hollerich) and all those guys. But I did so much work to get where I am today and got to play this year, so it’s the best I could have asked.”

“I really enjoyed being a part of everything. It’s like a family,” said Williams. “But it just sucks with the quarantine and everything. It feels like the family is being let down, but overall it was a good experience. Even when I didn’t get to play, I still feel like family.”

Coming off the big win 24 hours earlier, it was a rough start for the Clippers in the battle for Valley third place on Friday.

Aggressive with the attack, LCWM jumped out to a 12-3 start in game one with Madisyn Steen’s kill finally halting the seven-point run. The Clippers managed to pull within five after a Jordyn Klingel ace serve, but that was as close as they could get, and the Knights won 25-15 on an ace tip.

“We just had an amazing win last night,” said McCabe. “We didn’t come out as strong as we should have. I think a lot of us were tired and didn’t give our best.”

But the Clippers never trailed in game two. It began with a Zoe Porter ace serve and ended 25-19 on a McCabe ace tip.

Neither team had a run of more than two points in game three until the Clippers, up 15-13, broke free with eight-straight. The run included trio of Grayce Kortuem kills and a one McCabe kill. Down 23-15, the Knights rallied for six points before getting caught in the net. The game ended 25-21 on an Emily Kern ace tip.

With Cleveland trailing 11-3, game four started a lot like the first, but the Clipper offense got into a rhythm after that and tied the game 16-16 when Taylin Gosh propped up a low altitude pass that Kern converted into a winner.

Up 20-17 after a Kern ace serve, the Clippers gave up two points on errors and two more on ace serves, but a Kern kill knotted the score at 21. The game ended 25-22 when McCabe, in the last play of her high school career, dropped down an ace tip.

“It wasn’t flawless, but a least we ended with a win,” said head coach Bree Meyer. “How many teams can do that in a season short of winning a state tournament?”

Kern ended the night with 22 kills and 20 digs. McCabe had 10 kills, three digs and landed 12 of 13 serves with one of them an ace. Kortuem had five kills, three blocks and four digs. Gosch had 43 set assists and was 15/16 in serving with one ace. Porter had 13 digs. Klingel pulled up 11 digs.

Emma Sweere scooped 24 digs and completed 18 of 19 serves with two of them aces.

“She is really mentally strong,” said Meyer.

Steen punched three kills and propped up one dig. Coming on strong in game four, Laci Hollerich had two kills and three blocks. Harley Connor had three kills and a pair of blocks. Williams scraped three digs. Sarena Remiger had one block.

Halle McCabe makes a backwards bump.

Emma Sweere twists a dig.

Emily Kern fights at the net.

Harley Conner follows through on a hit.

Jordyn Klingel on the bump. 

Madisyn Steen paddles a hit.

With LCWM’s Lakisha Carter waiting across the net, Taylin Gosh tosses a pass.

Taylin Gosh and Grayce Kortuem leap for a block.

Zoe Porter hoists a LCWM serve.

Halle McCabe keeps the ball alive at the net.

The Clippers will return a strong group of seniors next year. They are, from L-R: Emily Kern, Zoe Porter, Grayce Kortuem, Emma Neubauer, Jordyn Klingel, Allison Jindra, Madisyn Steen and Taylin Gosch.