Clarkson/Leigh falls at Howells-Dodge in season opener

The Clarkson/Leigh Volleyball Team dropped their season opener Tuesday night, falling 3-2 at Howells-Dodge in action heard on 107.9 the Bull.

The Jaguars took set one 25-21 before the Patriots took set two 25-22 and set three 30-28. Howells-Dodge rebounded to win set four 25-22 and set five 15-8.

Cassidy Hoffman had 15 kills and 11 digs while Kim Stodola and Kennedy Settje had 9 kills each. Settje added 14 digs while Makenna Held had 12 digs and 35 set assists. Brittany Urbanek and Kayden Schumacher totaled 11 digs apiece.

Great effort from the Patriots. Clarkson/Leigh was up 2-1, but simply couldn't finish the match off and seal the deal.

The Patriots (0-1) host Madison and Stanton (1-1) in a Triangular Thursday night.

I look for Clarkson/Leigh to beat Madison for sure, and possibly the Mustangs.

Stanton has had the Patriots' number though so it doesn't figure to be easy.

The Jaguars are 4-1 so that wasn't a bad loss.

I think if Clarkson/Leigh can figure out how to close out and finish matches they will be just fine.

Sometimes it takes a new and young team a little bit to figure out how to win.

The Patriots were so close Tuesday night, and now they can go into Thursday night's matches hungry, motivated, confident, loose, and relaxed.

Clarkson/Leigh knows they can compete with the best of them, now they just need to go out there and find a way to get the job done.

The Patriots still have a lot of talent, and improving each and every day will only help them as they go along.

The loss to the Jaguars is a tough one as Clarkson/Leigh had Howells-Dodge right where they wanted them.

But you know what, that match is in the past and nothing can be done about it now.

The biggest thing for the Patriots is to bounce back and believe they can win both matches Thursday night.

Beating Stanton would be a really big deal for Clarkson/Leigh, there's no doubt about it.

The Mustangs are a lot like the Patriots in that they still have talent, and are a solid, quality ball club.

Stanton will come ready to play, that much you can pretty much guarantee.

So Clarkson/Leigh has to match the Mustangs' intensity, and be ready to come play a complete match from start to finish.

At no point in the match can the Patriots think or feel they have lost or are defeated.

If Clarkson/Leigh is dealt a certain blow or gets down early, they have to fight back instead of thinking that the match is over.

This is a program and a team that has done really well over the past 2-3 years, and a Triangular sweep Thursday night would get them back on the right track no doubt.