Clarkson/Leigh falls at Mead, wins final regular season match over Pender

The Clarkson/Leigh Volleyball Team lost 3-0 at Mead last Thursday night before sweeping Pender 3-0 at home to end the regular season Monday night.

The Raiders won set one 31-29, set two 27-25, and set three 25-13.

Sydney Folken and Ashlynn Novotny tallied 9 kills each while Halee Steffensmeier totaled 17 digs. Kaegan Held chipped in 12 digs and 30 set assists.

The Patriots took set one 25-14, set two 25-20, and set three 25-14 from the Pendragons.

Folken led the way with 13 kills while Beth Wiese and Paige Moore totaled 11 apiece. Held registered 17 digs and 34 set assists while Holly Kuhr and Brittney Urbanek notched 13 and 12 digs, respectively. Steffensmeier contributed 10 digs while Sara McEvoy had 9.

Clarkson/Leigh had more players get involved against Pender it appears.

The Patriots (22-9) host Pender (5-24) again in the opening round of Sub-Districts at Oakland-Craig Monday night.

GACC is also in this D1-4 sub-district, and I feel the Bluejays are the only team standing between Clarkson/Leigh and a trip to Lincoln.

GACC doesn't have a great record, but they play a really tough schedule, and are a perennial power.

The Patriots can definitely win and advance past sub-districts though.

This Clarkson/Leigh team has been good all year, and is very tough, and I look for the Patriots to play really good in the postseason.

The biggest things for Clarkson/Leigh are relaxing and not tensing up.

The Patriots have to play the way they did in the regular season, and up their level of play.

So Clarkson/Leigh should continue to do the things they have, just at a faster speed and higher level.

The Patriots have to be intense and get fired up and be ready to go the whole night.

Clarkson/Leigh has to prepare themselves physically and mentally, and must go out there and expect to win.

The Patriots have to dream big and visualize the moment of making it to Lincoln.

Clarkson/Leigh can't get too ahead of themselves and must be focused on Pender, but the Patriots have to gear up for a big postseason run.

Clarkson/Leigh is definitely capable of making state, but it's going to take a lot of hard work and perseverance.

Even if the Patriots get down say 2-0 in a match, they have to keep fighting and play hard and continue to battle.

Clarkson/Leigh lost the last set to Mead by a lot farther a margin than the first 2 sets, and the Patriots have to realize that a match is never over until it is over.

Clarkson/Leigh has to write their own story and make history.

The moment can be theirs, the Patriots just have to go out there and make it happen.

The Pender match is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m.