If ‘crunch time? is where a team’s true colors are on display, then the volleyball squad at Lake Orion has plenty to be excited about as they head into the season’s final month.
The Dragons won three straight tight games over visiting Stoney Creek last Thursday to finish the OAA II regular season with a 6-2 mark.
Lake Orion trailed in ‘crunch time? of all three games, but came back to win them all for a clean sweep (26-24, 25-22, 25-22).
‘We’ve actually struggled with that up to this point,? Coach Bob Howey said of his team finishing tight games.
Howey hopes the effort against Stoney Creek is a sign of things to come.
The Dragons led throughout the opening game, but the visitors came back to tie it at 20, and then led 24-22 with a chance to serve it out.
But a timely kill by Ashley Bringard and subsequent serving from Katlyn Van Houzen helped LO rattle off four straight points for the game.
The Dragons faced similar deficits in games two and three, including a 16-11 Stoney Creek lead in the third game, but came back both times to close out the match.
‘It was a real good test for us tonight,? Howey said. ‘I think we learned how to finish and it should really help us for the league tournament coming up.?
Sarah Brown had 15 assists for Lake Orion and libero Alicia Roth had nine digs. Jacky Hardenburg led the way with eight kills, but wasn’t alone in that category.
‘We’re pretty deep,? Howey noted. ‘I had four people with five or more kills.?
Kaitlin Denton led the team in the serving department with five aces, using a well-placed, high-arching ball.
‘We work a lot on the serving,? Howey said. ‘We do a lot of target practice serving.?
The Dragons improved to 14-12-1 overall with the win, but, more importantly, finished the league’s regular season on a two-game winning streak.
The Dragons beat Waterford Mott earlier in the week to end a two-game league slide.
‘Now we’re in striking distance,? the coach said. ‘We need to have a good day at the league tournament.?
‘If we can win the league tournament, the worst we can do is finish tied for the league championship.?
The tournament will be held at Stoney Creek on Saturday, where the Dragons will have an opportunity to avenge their two league losses to Rochester and West Bloomfield.
‘I think we’re in pretty good position,? Howey said. ‘We’re just going to have to play good ball that day.?