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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Smoked!

Lady netters dominate Lincoln Park for win

By Bruce Mason, Special Writer

PUBLISHED: January 18, 2007

They smoked 'em.

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That's how Ypsilanti volleyball coach Ryan Minarik described the whooping his team placed Jan. 10 on Lincoln Park.

And he was right. The Ypsilanti volleyball team won in a three-game sweep, 25-11, 25-20 and 25-22.

But then Saturday rolled around, as did the Tecumseh tournament. And that's when Minarik witnessed his team play the worst it has all season.

In four matches, Ypsilanti lost to Jackson, Napoleon, Tecumseh and Ann Arbor Huron. They are now 4-11-2, 1-0 Mega White.

"We all had the stinks (on Saturday)," Minarik said about the misfortunes at the Tecumseh tournament, while looking toward the rest of the season.

"I don't know what team that was. I hope everyone got it out. The whole year we actually have been playing well."

Minarik said they all looked like they didn't want to be at the Tecumseh tournament, the passing was not even close to what it has been this year.

"Maybe it's just a one-day fluke," he said. "They didn't have the juice in them. I'm not saying everyone. We had our peaks and valleys.

"A lot of valleys."

Now Ypsilanti will face Belleville this week, and he believes his team will get up for a match against a school that beat them twice last season.

One volleyball player who will definitely get up, literally speaking, is middle hitter Dominque Jones.

Jones is a basketball player who can out jump anyone on the volleyball court, Minarik said. Her middle-hitting counterpart, Kaila Claxton, leads the team in blocks and kills. Setter Sara Muse has been playing well, too, and she repeatedly feeds both Claxton and Jones.

The funny thing about Jones, though, is she is still learning the game, meaning that she is a natural athlete. As soon as this season is over, it will be back to basketball, and she won't even think about volleyball until November, Minarik said.

"She's probably the most fearful hitter," he said. "I just can't believe how well she pounds the ball right now.

"Boy, if she's on, you can't stop her."

Bruce Mason is a freelance sports writer for The Courier. He can be reached through e-mail at editor@ypsilanticourier.com.