Volleyball season preview: Clear Creek Amana has clear motivation, and the talent to make a run

Editor's Note: This is the first in our series of volleyball previews for local high school teams. Coming tomorrow: Iowa City West.

It may seem silly to call a volleyball team that won its conference an underdog, but that has been the approach that the Clear Creek Amana Clippers have taken heading into the 2022 season.

After a tough loss ended what could have been a storybook year, the Clippers are working to not only replicate last year's regular season success but make a deep postseason run.

"For our returning players, that game stung," Clippers coach Jackie Clubb said. "It left a chip on their shoulders because they are not satisfied with it. They do not want to let that last loss leave a bad taste in their mouths. They are ready to go."

Looking back at 2021

Last season, the Clippers were one of the best teams in the WaMac-West, finishing with a 27-12 record, including winning all six of their conference matches. Individual players were earning their accolades as well.

Then-sophomore middle hitter Bliss Beck was named the conference's Player of the Year after posting 306 kills, 92 blocks and 61 digs.

The team was riding high entering the postseason, especially because they were taking on a familiar foe, the Benton Bobcats, a team they had already defeated twice.

But the Bobcats won the teams' postseason rubber match, sweeping the Clippers in three sets.

The loss ended CCA's promising season and the careers of nine seniors, including Calia Clubb, its leader in kills, and Jaclyn Pitcher, who had the second-most assists.

That match also provided some painful, yet important, lessons. Junior libero/defensive specialist Meg Berkland said it has helped to change her outlook for future contests.

"I learned to never go into a game thinking that you are going to win," Berkland said. "We always have to work for the win, no matter who we are playing."

New additions

With not many changes coming to the Clippers' starting lineup, it will not be surprising if few underclassmen see the court.

However, Clubb mentioned junior Ashlyn Pitcher as a player who could carve out an important role for herself this year.

Last season, Pitcher appeared in five matches, with two kills, six assists and a block.

Potential wild cards

While younger players may not see the court early, one can never predict how a season will turn out. Injuries and other unforeseen instances happen, which take starting players out of action. 

Beck expressed confidence in her team's ability to respond, saying its mix of experience and youth will be an asset throughout the year.

"We can really build together as a team with our mix of under and upperclassmen," Beck said. "There are some underclassmen who can make an impact here. We lost some leaders last year, but I think that there are some upperclassmen who are ready to step into that role."

One of those players will be Silvana Kabolo, a middle hitter who said she hopes to be more vocal in her senior year. 

"I am trying to talk a lot more," Kabolo said. "That is not really what I was used to last year, but I want to help keep my teammates' spirits up. I want this to be a fun environment, where everything is not so serious all the time. It is important that we all are comfortable with each other, because that will help us a lot on the court as well."

Key matchup this season

Considering the way last season ended for CCA, there is no more important regular-season match than Sept. 24 against Benton.

Though the stakes will not be as high in this late-season meeting, a win could help to lessen the chip on the Clippers players' shoulders and lead others to believe that the Bobcats' tournament win from a year was a fluke.

Reasons for optimism

As previously mentioned, though the team will be without several seniors, it will still have key returners in the fold.

Beck has a shot to be even better than she was a year ago. Fellow junior Berkland was a terrific server, leading the team with 39 aces. And Kabolo will be tasked with taking on a larger leadership role.

Not only that, but they will be playing with an edge that has been missing in recent years due to their dissatisfaction with the conclusion of last season.

We will see the Clippers back in action Aug. 25, when they open the season with a  quad match against Solon, Mount Vernon and Center Point-Urbana.