West Bloomfield traveled to Lake Orion last Thursday hoping to win the OAA II regular season crown in volleyball.
Instead, the Dragons played rude hosts, trouncing the Lakers 25-14, 25-13 and 25-22 to claim a share of the title themselves.
‘We knew Shelby (Gray) was really good for them, so we needed to move the ball around, make her move and make them play defense,? Lake Orion Coach Bob Howey said.
The team improved to 6-2 in OAA II and will be the top seed in the league tournament on Saturday, Oct. 20 (play begins at noon at LOHS).
That situation is a far cry from where the team sat a few weeks ago after a home loss to Waterford Kettering dropped them to 1-2 in league action.
‘After we lost to Kettering, we went down to our team room and talked for a bit,? Howey said. ‘When Coach (Steve) Skene and I left, the seniors and a couple of girls were in there.?
Howey said those talks went late into the night and that the leaders of the team made a pact not to lose again in the league.
The coach said his team’s resurgence is due to balanced play.
Against West Bloomfield, Jessica Bland led the way going 20/21 serving with four aces and two blocks. She rattled off eight straight points on her serve in the third game to turn a 20-16 deficit into a commanding 24-20 lead.
Shawmee Davey added 14 assists, Lindsey Van Norman had six kills and Alicia Roth and Katlyn Van Houzen contributed 15 and 10 digs, respectively.
The team also topped Waterford Mott in three games earlier last week, winning by scores of 25-12, 25-12 and 25-22.
In that contest, Jacky Hardenburg had five kills and four blocks, Roth had 17 digs, Davey added eight digs with 13 assists and four aces and Van Houzen went 12/13 serving with three aces.
In spite of their recent success, Howey said there is still room for his team to grow.
‘I still think we have another level,? he said. ‘The very first tournament of the year at Imlay City, we played Port Huron Northern in the semis and that may be the best we’ve played all year.?
The Dragons hope to find that level against their league foes this weekend.
***
Meanwhile, the district draw has been revealed and the Dragons will have to beat at least one neighbor if they hope to win.
‘We have a very tough district because they mixed it up,? Howey said, noting rivals Clarkston and Oxford will present difficult challenges, as will Lapeer East.
That action will get underway at LOHS on Nov. 1, with LO opening against Oxford.
The Dragons got a preview of that match with a road tilt against the Wildcats last night. Things went all Oxford’s way as they topped LO (playing without Roth) 25-18, 25-12 and 25-10.