For three straight seasons, the Dexter High School girls volleyball team has won the Southeastern Conference White Division title.

For all three years, Allison Krips was a starting force at the net for the Dreadnaughts. Coincidence? Not likely.

“I try to make sure the team always has positive energy going into the game,” said Krips, regarding her approach to each season. “I try to push everyone to their highest level of play. I put a lot of pressure on the team to play their best and get that win.”

That motivational outlook proved especially effective in her senior season as Krips helped the Dreadnaughts to a 39-13-5 overall record.

On the way, the 5-foot, 10-inch Krips planted a whopping 634 kills (4.2 per game) along with 544 digs, 34 blocks and 65 aces. Krips’ standout statistics earned her a third All-SEC White honor, a second straight all-region selection and the title of AnnArbor.com’s Washtenaw County Player of the Year.

After a season full of highlights, the Dreadnaughts’ postseason was quickly ended when a hot Pioneer team handed them a 3-2 upset loss in the first round of districts.

“It was very disappointing. We just kind of got discouraged,” said Krips, whose team opened with a 2-0 lead before the Pioneers staged their comeback.

But why dwell on the losses when there were so many wins to look back on?

One of the most memorable wins for Krips came when Dexter won the Saline Invitational on Oct. 3, avenging a pair of loses to SEC foes en route to claiming the 16-team title. The Dreads took home the trophy after edging rival Saline (25-21, 25-23) in the championship game - an especially satisfying victory for Krips.

“I've had girls (from Saline) that I've played with on club, I just get really competitive against them,” said Krips, who finished the tournament with 81 kills. “I wanted to win very badly.”

It’s that competitive mindset that fueled Krips and Dexter throughout her three-year varsity career.

Kaleb Roedel is a sports writer for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734)623-2562, e-mailed at kalebroedel@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @KalebisReal.