Freshman Katie Monestime serves for the Lady Anchors.

The St. Clement volleyball team clinched a spot in the State Tournament for a second year in a row by beating Cathedral High School, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School and Saint Joseph’s Prep. The team is now seeking to earn a bye when the playoffs begin.

The Lady Anchors defeated Cathedral 3-0. Senior Co-Captain, Kristina Ofoedu (Methuen), lead the Anchors to victory racking up thirteen service points, six kills, and two blocks. Sophomore, Jessica Popken (Medford) and Junior, Megan Berg (Medford), both supplied the Lady Anchors with stellar serves. Berg had a total of thirteen service points along with six aces, while Popken had eleven big service points and eight aces.

St. Clement hosted Saint Joseph’s Prep. Senior Captain, Allison Caloggero (Medford), led the girls to a 3-1 victory by supplying twenty-six service points, twelve aces and eight digs. On the net, Ofoedu smacked down ten kills and put up five hard blocks. Both Berg and Popken put up twenty-nine service points combined for the Lady Anchors. Popken also gave the team a cushion by contributing with sixteen digs. Senior Captain, Judy D’Haiti (Cambridge), quietly supplied the girls with outstanding saves from all over the court.

Friday night, the Lady Anchors traveled to Malden where they faced Mystic Valley Regional High School. The ladies came out on top with a huge 3-2 victory against the Eagles. Caloggero put up another twenty-six service points, along with eight aces, four kills, and seventeen digs. Ofoedu was her normal self by putting down ten kills, as well as five blocks and eighteen marvelous digs. Freshmen, Katie Monestime (Somerville), helped out the Lady Anchors by perfectly placing eight kills and blocking four of the Eagles kills. Senior Co-Captain, Camilla Souza (Everett), had crucial digs in the back row to help push the Lady Anchors to a big victory.

“They beat us last time we faced them, so the girls and I knew that this was a must win game and of course we wanted a little pay back,” said Coach Lisa Regione.

The Lady Anchors improve to a 12-3 overall record and slipped into second place in the Catholic Central League (CCL) small. With their win on Tuesday the girls clenched a spot in the 2012 State Tournament.

“If we keep playing this way, we will go far in the States,” says Regione, confidently. The girls are very excited to the tournament but are very hungry to bring home more victory.