The Lake Orion volleyball squad rebounded from a tough week to blow away the competition at the OAA II tournament and claim the outright league title Saturday at LOHS.
Coach Bob Howey said his team didn’t look very good in losing to Oxford (Tuesday in straight games in a district preview) or in beating Farmington Hills Harrison (Thursday in a OAA crossover).
‘They know we can play well and we haven’t played well,? Howey said. ‘But the league championship meant a whole lot to this group, especially after starting 1-2.?
They proved that point by not dropping a single match on Saturday.
The Dragons rolled through the winner’s bracket from their position as the top seed (which they earned by winning a tiebreaker from a four-way tie at 6-2 during regular season play).
LO beat Royal Oak (25-16, 25-12), Rochester (25-23, 25-19) and West Bloomfield to advance to the final.
The match against West Bloomfield went to a tiebreaking third game after the teams split the first two games (25-20 and 23-25). The third game was never in doubt as LO breezed 15-9.
‘I preached from the beginning of today that we had to win the first three to be in the driver’s seat, because then somebody has to beat you twice,? Howey said. ‘It takes a lot out of you to play that much from the loser’s bracket.?
Rochester and West Bloomfield met in the final game of the loser’s bracket to determine Lake Orion’s competition in the championship tilt.
Rochester took that match-up 25-17 and 25-22, but had to beat the Dragons twice to earn the title (as the Dragons had yet to lose in the double-elimination format).
Since Rochester was not one of the teams in the league’s tie for first place, Lake Orion had already clinched the title heading into the final, but their coach kept that a secret.
‘Only one of them asked me about it, I think (Alicia) Roth asked me about it and I kind of fibbed,? Howey said. ‘I wanted to win this outright.?
The Dragons did just that, but it wasn’t easy. They trailed by as many as six in the first game and by a 20-16 margin when Howey called a timeout.
Out of that break, Lake Orion reeled off seven straight points to take control of the game, which they clinched 25-22 on a Jacky Hardenburg block.
The Dragons used their momentum to grab a quick 5-0 lead in game two. Rochester chipped away at that lead, but could never even things up, and Lake Orion pulled away late to take the second game 25-18 and earn the league trophy.
‘They really wanted it,? Howey said. ‘They warmed up for a good hour and they were here early. They were just on today.?
‘I thought we spread the ball around and our bench made a ton of noise and provided great support,? he added.
The Dragons face Clarkston this week, a team that is in their district (visit www.lakeorionreview.com for an update), and will get their rematch with Oxford when district play opens next Thursday at LOHS.