Clarkston Scouting Report. Volleyball.

Written Saturday October 12th, at 1:35 PM

Rivalries are born and have been precedence for years.

You look at this match up of two state powers on Tuesday night at Lake Orion. Both of these teams are very familiar with each other than people think. Clarkston is ninth in Class A while Lake Orion is ranked number two in Class A.

Both the Dragons and Wolves are 3-0 in Red play and haven’t lost a set this season. Both coaches Dragons coach Ross Talbott and Wolves coach Kelly Avernall believe that their respective counterparts are the team’s to beat in the Red.

Clarkston has won three of the last four meetings with Lake Orion in the last two seasons, including a playoff defeat of the Dragons last season in the district finals at Romeo but the meeting in 2011 was in Battle Creek when Lake Orion beat the Wolves in the state semifinals. Clarkston has won the Red in the last six seasons.

The Wolves has three top notch players and their team this year is a bit young but if there has to be a major concern for Avernall it is Clarkston’s defense. The Wolves have been inconsistent on that side of the ball this season. Clarkston has had times where they have allowed over 20 points a couple of times this season but have also limited opposing teams to less than 13 points.

The Wolves brings back Taylor Dellinger, a transfer from Alabama. Dellinger spent her freshman campaign at Clarkston before transferring out of state to Alabama. Now she is back in Michigan for her junior and senior season's. Dellinger is a wing and does know some of the Dragons players quite well. She has an offer from Northern Kentucky as a junior. Dellinger had 12 kills against Troy on Thursday night and figures to play a big roll in this game. A lot of experts have compared her to Rachel Dickerson and Dickerson was a very good player in her own right. She has a killer instinct for the ball and plays well when she has the chance.

The next player is Katie Chadwell. Chadwell is an Oakland University commitment for volleyball next season but is a senior at Clarkston this season. She has a killer instinct inside and can sometimes go outside to the wing to kill points and is very intelligent. Chadwell has experience considering that she is a three year varsity player and is one of the top players in the state.

The next player is Brianna Frakes. Frakes is a senior defensive specialist who can serve the ball very well and can get aces when need to. She can play from the backcourt and the frontcourt as well with a killer instinct. Frakes is also a three year varsity player and is very intelligent. She can get kills when needed too and also is a brilliant defensive specialist.

This is a key match up is the Liberio position. Clarkston has struggled in this area this season with the departures of Maddy Lightfoot two seasons ago and Emily Popp last season while Lake Orion has been consistent with Ally Shinouskis at this position in her senior season. The Dragons have had consistency at this position in recent years since replacing Maddie Hutchinson two seasons ago and Gabby Kalugar last season.

Other match ups to watch is Hannah Murdock vs. Taylor Dellinger at the wings. Both these ladies should know each other well considering that they played volleyball together on the same AAU team The Legacy and both have killer instants to the ball.

Rachel Giwa vs. Brianna Frakes is another one to watch, especially at the defensive positions. Both of them can serve the ball very well and can get aces when they need to. They are in the area a lot in terms of setting up shots and make plays happen.

Tess Marshall vs. Katie Chadwell is an interesting match up as well both inside and outside. Both players can go inside and can go outside as well. They both are athletic and determined along with the rest of their teammates to do very well.

This match is a pick em and will likely go five games. Fans get to Lake Orion early for some good volleyball between two state powers.

So we’ll see what happens.