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Tourtelotte Proves Herself in OPRF Volleyball

Junior outside hitter sparks Huskies to sweep of Resurrection.

Alena Tourtelotte is starting in her first season on the girls volleyball team, but the junior feels like she still has to prove herself.

And that’s exactly what she did Tuesday evening.

With the first game against Resurrection tied at 17, Tourtelotte delivered back-to-back kills to give OPRF the lead for good. Then she unleashed a big kill from the back row on game point. The hitting microburst propelled the host Huskies to a 25-18, 25-13 nonconference sweep.

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“It was time for me to play well,” Tourtelotte said of the first game hanging in the balance. “I feel like I have to solidify my position on the team and prove to everyone that I can do this. As a junior you’ve got to step it up.”

Tourtelotte, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter, finished with a match-high seven kills and two blocks to lead a balanced effort for the winners.

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“She’s probably on most of the days our best hitter,” OPRF coach Don August said. “She has a lot of range. She attacks the ball hard. She’s working on her jumping ability like all the girls. I expect good things from her. She’s pretty focused on being a good volleyball player.”

Senior Erin Martin landed six kills and senior Haley Clark registered four for the Huskies (2-1). Sophomores Amy Schembari and Kiley Nelson added three and two kills, respectively.

Look for OPRF’s attack to continue to come from a variety of players in the absence of a go-to hitter.

“It’s going to have to be a group effort,” August said.

“I think we all bring something to the team,” Tourtelotte said.

Resurrection coach Anita Merk was impressed with the Huskies, who tallied 12 kills in the opener and 13 in the second game.

“They’re a solid team with nice hitters,” Merk said. “I thought they played very well.”

After Resurrection (0-1) took a 6-4 lead in Game 2, OPRF scored four consecutive points and seven of the next eight. Junior libero Ellie Herner capped the run with an ace that gave the Huskies an 11-7 edge. The home team protected the lead the rest of the way, recording match point on sophomore Emma Dunne’s kill.

“We did look good today,” August said. “That’s two in a row. We looked good on Thursday against Trinity. We’ve been practicing hard and really concentrating and focusing. It’s a very young team so it takes a little time to get better.”

The Huskies have four sophomores, including two starters in Schembari and Nelson. Schembari led them in aces with two. OPRF finished with four to Resurrection’s two.

“I thought we definitely won the serving game tonight,” August said.

Herner and Martin paced the Huskies in digs with 13 apiece. Tourtelotte tallied 12.

“Not a lot hit the ground,” Merk said.

Senior Katy Oldach and Schembari each totaled 10 assists.

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