Above: Libero Haddie Jobe on the scoop.
Getting off on the right foot, the Clipper C-squad girls topped visiting New Ulm Cathedral on Thursday 2-1 in their season opener.
While they didn’t dominate and found themselves down a few times, the Clippers maintained composure in the wins.
“We had a lot of jitters early,” said first-year coach Ellie Johnson. “I think they got them out right away.
After a Delaney Thompson kill that started a seven-point run and pulled the Clippers within a point, game one tied on a Cathedral error. With an Evelyn Keltgen ace block, the Clippers were up 11-10.
Going on the attack, the Greyhounds battled back and got up front 22-21 before Thompson set up a Chloe Haack kill. Thompson followed up with a pair of ace serves to extend the Clipper lead, and the game ended 25-22 after a Greyhound error.
A Haack attack was the first point of game two. The score seesawed after that, but the Clippers went on a three-point run, including an ace tip and an ace block from Haack, to pull up 19-15. New Ulm couldn’t keep the ball inbounds down the stretch, and the Clippers won 25-19.
Game three was just for fun, and the Clippers fell 15-9.
“We’ll work on ball control and taking care of the ball,” Johnson said. “The girls have good ability. They just need to use it.”
The C girls are back in action when they travel to Janesville on Tuesday.
Isabel Duron follows through on a hit.
Delaney Thompson steers the ball towards her hitting staff.
Evelyn Keltgen gets on the floor to hoist up a dig.
Madison Wollschlager on the dig.