MOUNTAINEERS AIM FOR THE TOP - The Oakland Press

PREP VOLLEYBALL

MOUNTAINEERS AIM FOR THE TOP

Unbeaten Everest Collegiate dominates Hancock in D4 semi; St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake next

Clarkston Everest Collegiate celebrates a point during Thursday’s D4 semifinal win over Hancock. PHOTOS BY DREW ELLIS — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP

Clarkston Everest Collegiate’s Sarah Bradley puts home one of her match-high 16 kills during Thursday’s 25-10, 25-16, 25-13 win over Hancock in a D4 volleyball semifinal at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.

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By Drew Ellis

For MediaNews Group

BATTLE CREEK >> The Clarkston Everest Collegiate volleyball team looked all business in its Division 4 semifinal on Thursday.

But, business has been pretty fun for the Mountaineers in 2024.

After winning the Division 4 state championship in 2023 in dramatic fashion with a young team, the Mountaineers have been running through the competition all year in an effort to repeat as champions.

That continued on Thursday, as Everest Collegiate ran through a Hancock team that was making its first-ever appearance in the state semifinals, winning by scores of 25-10, 25-16, 25-13.

“This postseason, and even today, we went into saying, ‘Go out and have fun.’ We’ve been here and we’ve done that (winning a title), so there’s nothing to lose. We have a lot of seniors, so this is the last time they will all play together. So, I just want them to go out there and have fun and play to the best of their ability,” Everest Collegiate coach Danielle Walker said.

The Mountaineers’ best has been enough, as Thursday’s win moves it to 37-0-1 on the year and on the brink of an undefeated season with a second consecutive state title. CEC will face St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake (33-3-1) in Saturday’s championship match at 10 a.m. The Lakers beat Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 24-26, 25-22, 25-11, 26-28, 15-8, in the other D4 semifinal on Thursday.

“I think (last year) really put us in the mindset of, anything we put our mind to, we can do. Last year was kind of a miracle. It wasn’t supposed to happen,” CEC senior outside hitter Sarah Bradley said. “I think that knowing we can do anything, really pushed us (this season).”

In 2023, the Mountaineers had just one senior on the roster and found themselves down two sets in both the semifinal and final, only to rally for the victories.

This year, with nearly the entire lineup back, the team has looked dominant. That was the case on Thursday, as Bradley put down kills on the first three points to establish the Mountaineers were the team to beat.

When Bradley wasn’t scoring, it was fellow senior outside Madelyn Krappmann that was finding a home for the ball.

In the second set, senior setter Erica Walker shifted the attack to the middle, where senior Addison Pearce took over.

“Their setter did a really nice job. Her set location on the outside ball was really, really good, even when she was out of system,” Hancock coach Brian Lampaa said. “She has some big pins that caused some challenges for us, plus that ran an aggressive middle that stressed out our block.”

The three hitters are the team captains for Everest Collegiate and they combined for 38 of the team’s 45 kills. Collectively, the Mountaineers hit .481 as a team.

“Player-led teams are very successful and these three captains are such great leaders that this team is successful because of their leadership,” Danielle Walker said.

Erica Walker tallied 30 assists and also had seven digs, while Kramppmann had nine digs to lead the defensive effort. Bradley recorded seven service aces to go along with six digs.

Hancock (25-7-2) was led by Brooke Koskela, who had 10 kills and six digs.