By Teddy Rydquist

Review Contributing Sportswriter

Opening OAA play with a victory over the Troy Colts on Sept. 19, the Lake Orion Dragons volleyball team kept the good times going by traveling to Oxford and sweeping the Wildcats, 3-0, on Sept. 24.

The Dragons won the first set, 25-21. Play was evenly matched until senior Kylie Andras helped the Dragons pull away late in the set.

Thanks to back-to-back aces from freshman Nina Horning and a nifty shot from sophomore Piper Talaga, Lake Orion widened the gap in the second set to win, 25-19.

After the Wildcats bolted out to a 6-0 lead in the third set, it appeared a sweep might not be in the cards for the Dragons.

However, Lake Orion clawed their way back to tie the action at 14, ultimately sealing the deal with a late 10-0 run. Fittingly, it was Horning who scored the match’s final point.

“She still makes a lot of freshman errors, but she scores a lot of points for us,” head coach Tony Scavarda said of Horning. “She’s talented enough to overcome some of those errors. She’s going to be a very special player for us.”

Lake Orion avenged their earlier loss to Oxford when these two programs met prior to league play at Notre Dame Prep.

“I’m surprised it went as smoothly as it did,” Scavarda added. “They handled us earlier this year, so it was nice to make up for that and pick up a league win in the process.”

Lake Orion also won 3-0 again over the Birmingham Groves Falcons on Sept. 26 in their second straight road contest.

Sitting at 3-0 in league play, the Dragons are tied with Clarkston and Stoney Creek atop the OAA Red standings. Looking to keep pace with the Wolves and Cougars, Lake Orion will play their third consecutive match on the road on Thursday at West Bloomfield.