The Alpena volleyball team falls to Cadillac | in its final home game of the regular season News, sports, jobs

In the first set, Alpena trailed early and encountered communication problems that affected their rhythm. After a timeout, the team improved coordination, allowing them to better withstand Cadillac’s actions.

Coach Kolby Andrews noted that the timeout allowed the players to “make some judgment calls,” adding that this comes from “playing the game” and gaining experience to read it more effectively.

One of the recurring issues for Alpena was hand placement during receptions, which affected their defense against Cadillac’s serves. Despite this, the Wildcats showed a strong ability to judge the position of the ball near the boundaries of the playing field, a skill that Andrews attributed to the team’s growing familiarity with the game.

“As they get more and more experienced, they see the game slowing down a little bit,” he said.

News photo by Leslianne Johns Ashlyn Gray receives the ball during Tuesday night’s volleyball match in Alpena. The Wildcats lost to the Cadillac Vikings in three sets.

The team’s seniors, Reaghan Fitzpatrick, Olivia Ryan and Kiera Prue, each made impressive spikes and contributed to the Wildcats’ offensive efforts.

Andrews noted that these seniors “have been a good influence on the rest of the girls all season,” with younger players looking up to them for their calm and steady presence on the field.

A highlight of the match came during a lengthy rally that culminated in a point for Alpena.

Additionally, Laura Poli made a crucial save late in the third set to delay Cadillac’s victory. However, a final tip over the Cadillac net sealed the Wildcats’ defeat.

Reflecting on the season’s progress, Andrews acknowledged the team’s growth by focusing on their strengths. He emphasized the importance of focusing on what the team does best, especially as they prepare for the upcoming district competition.

News photo by Leslianne Johns Madelynn Cameron and Grace Cameron block the ball against the Cadillac Vikings in their final home game on Tuesday. The team lost in three sets.

“We’ve improved some things that I think will help us stay in games,” he said, expressing hope that “the team we’ve been waiting for all year will show up.”