D4 Finals Recap: Everest Collegiate Finishes Unbeaten Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clarkston Everest Collegiate became the first MHSAA volleyball team to complete an unbeaten season since 2015 on Saturday, repeating at Division 4 state champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake didn't make it easy on the Mountaineers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lakers' roster of seven players – five seniors and two eighth graders – handed CEC its first set loss of the season in the third. But, when push came to shove, Everest Collegiate was too powerful behind its trio of senior hitters, prevailing 25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 25-13.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“St. Joseph came to battle and pushed us a little bit today, for a lot of it. They're real scrappy, and they kept us on our toes,” Everest Collegiate coach Danielle Walker said of the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The message (to the team) was to go out there and have fun. Do this for each other, and we have nothing to lose. We've done this before. We've been here. The pressure is on, but let go of the pressure and just go out there and have fun and play together. These seniors, this is their last match. This is the end of their volleyball season, and they just want to go and play and have fun together one last time.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":724046,"width":"290px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/DSC_0958.jpg?w=770" alt="" class="wp-image-724046" style="width:290px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='261206' first='Sarah' last='Bradley']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lakers pushed the Mountaineers in the opening two sets, but Everest Collegiate was able to ride <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261206' first='Sarah' last='Bradley']</strong> to the victories behind 10 kills in the first and eight in the second.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the third, the Lakers just slowly chipped away and took a lead on CEC. The Mountaineers couldn't quite catch them, as OLL changed up its attack location and found success behind <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='723159' first='Nora' last='Proos']</strong>, who had nine kills in the set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We hoped that they would be overconfident, and we could just kind of take advantage if they got lazy,” OLL coach Erin Cashen said. “We took advantage of some points and really isolated a few of their weak defenders in certain rotations, hitting specific shots. And our service pressure was good.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Instead of succumbing to the pressure of letting an unbeaten season slip, Everest Collegiate kicked things into high gear in the fourth set. Bradley joined <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='288958' first='Madelyn' last='Krappmann'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='722961' first='Addison' last='Pearce'] </strong>with a combined 13 kills in the final frame to blow past OLL, 25-13.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We played so well this season, and did not want to be the team that goes and chokes in final match,” Bradley said. “So, I think that going out there, giving it our all playing against the underdog like we were last year, I think it really gave us the confidence boost to just go out there and play our game.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bradley finished with a match-high 28 kills to go along with 16 digs to lead Everest Collegiate. Krappmann had 16 kills with 14 digs, while Pearce finished with 10 kills. Setter <strong>Erica Walker </strong>recorded 45 assists and 14 digs, while libero <strong>Samantha Pietras </strong>had 14 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Proos led OLL with 25 kills and 14 digs, while <strong>Jojo Marsh </strong>had 10 kills and 15 digs. <strong>Aislin Sargent </strong>had 34 assists, while <strong>Ellie Howard </strong>recorded 16 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everest Collegiate wraps up its season with a 38-0-1 record, with the only split coming against Division 2 North Branch. Our Lady of the Lake finishes 33-4-1 on the season, but takes home the first runner-up trophy in program history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We knew this was going to be one heck of a feat to do. Seven players, two eighth graders that never played before this season. We knew it was going to be tough,” Cashen said. “(Everest Collegiate) was just too much for us in the end. I'm really just so proud of our girls. Nothing's changed for me. I'm really super proud.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->