Alpena’s volleyball team falls to Cadillac in final home game of regular season
ALPENA — The Alpena Wildcats faced the Cadillac Vikings in their final home game, ultimately falling in three sets with scores of 13-25, 16-25, and 14-25.
In the first set, Alpena trailed early and encountered communication issues that impacted their rhythm. After a timeout, the team improved its coordination, allowing them to better contend with Cadillac’s plays.
Coach Kolby Andrews noted that the timeout allowed the players to “make some judgment calls,” adding that it comes from “playing the game” and gaining experience to read it more effectively.
One of the recurring struggles for Alpena was hand placement during receives, which affected their defense against Cadillac’s serves. Despite this, the Wildcats demonstrated a strong ability to judge the ball’s position near the court boundaries, a skill Andrews attributed to the team’s growing familiarity with the game.
“As they get more and more experience, they see the game happen a little bit slower,” he said.
The team’s seniors, Reaghan Fitzpatrick, Olivia Ryan, and Kiera Prue, each made impactful spikes, contributing to the Wildcats’ efforts on offense.
Andrews remarked 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 court.
A highlight of the match occurred during a lengthy rally that culminated in a point for Alpena.
Additionally, Laura Poli provided a crucial save late in the third set to delay Cadillac’s victory. However, a final tip over the net from Cadillac sealed the Wildcats’ defeat.
Reflecting on the season’s progression, Andrews acknowledged the team’s growth in focusing on their strengths. He emphasized the importance of leaning into what the team does best, especially as they prepare for the upcoming district match.
“We’ve improved on some things that I think are gonna help us stay in matches,” he said, expressing hope that “the team we’ve been waiting for all year shows up.”