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First-day optimism: Clear Creek Amana seeks to author a blockbuster story
High school volleyball: Ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by The Gazette, Clippers make their first steps toward a potential fourth consecutive state-tournament appearance
Aug. 11, 2025 5:37 pm, Updated: Aug. 11, 2025 6:27 pm
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TIFFIN — Sariah Sherman, outside hitter. And book publicist.
As a first-day-of-practice interview wound down Monday afternoon, the subject turned literary.
“Beer Money,” she said, referring to the historical fiction book authored by her father, Steve Sherman.
“It’s on Amazon. You should definitely read it.”
Along with her volleyball teammates, Sherman hopes to create a real page-turner of their own this fall.
Led by returning all-staters Averie Lower and Emily Henderson, Clear Creek Amana brings back the majority of a team that compiled a 37-8 record and reached its third consecutive state tournament.
The Clippers are tabbed as the state’s No. 1 team in The Gazette’s preseason Class 4A rankings.
“We’re not a secret,” Coach Jackie Clubb said. “We need to be stay hungry, humble and healthy.
“We need to manage the pressure. Some kids don’t want to face it, but they’ve got to.”
In 2022, CCA pulled two upsets at state and reached the 4A finals. In 2023, the Clippers went 46-1, with the lone defeat coming to North Scott in the semifinals.
“I loved that 2023 team,” Henderson said. “The lesson from that (season) was to never get too comfortable. You never know what might happen.
“Hopefully we can peak in November, get a little luck and be the best team we can be.”
On a white board in the gymnasium, Clubb wrote: “What holds us back from being our best selves?”
Her answers: Ego. Fear. Impatience. Comparison. Complacency. Limiting beliefs.
“Impatience is a key one,” Sherman said. “You want to jump ahead. We need to stay in the moment.”
For now, the moment is one of optimism. Led by Lower, soon to begin making college visits for basketball, the Clippers return 97 percent of their kills from last season.
With Henderson, they bring back 91 percent of their assists. And they return 69 percent of their digs.
“We’ve got a lot of returners that will make a powerful front row, and a lot of underclassmen that can take a role in the back row,” Lower said.
A 6-foot outside hitter, Lower was unquestionably the Clippers’ go-to attacker last season. Clubb is seeking more balance.
“We’ve got options; we built on that this summer,” she said, adding that sophomore Julia Schlarbaum “has made a huge jump.”
The Clippers open the season Aug. 26 at home against Center Point-Urbana.
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
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