After a four-game loss to Waterford Kettering at home early last week, Dragons Coach Bob Howey admitted his team did not look good.
What a difference a couple of days can make. The Dragons stormed into Andover last Thursday night and made quick work of the defending OAA II champs, winning 25-18, 25-21 and 25-21.
‘We knew we could play this way,? Howey said. ‘Winning the first game is huge.?
The match was never in doubt, as Lake Orion avenged a loss to Andover in last year’s league tournament championship.
‘We had a great rivalry with them last year and I think the girls remembered that,? Howey said. ‘They knew that we had to turn it around tonight, too.?
Howey said those two factors, the memories of last season and the urgency of this one, formed a perfect storm for the Dragons against Andover. And it was the veteran players that stepped up big.
Ashley Bringard had 10 kills, Shawmee Davey recorded 12 assists and Katlyn Van Houzen went 13/14 serving with two aces, while Jessica Bland was 12/12 serving with four aces. All four players are seniors.
Alicia Roth added 32 digs for Lake Orion.
‘She’s played well,? Howey said of the junior libero. ‘She knows the game almost as well as I do.?
The Dragons followed up the Andover win, with an equally-impressive rout of visiting Berkley yesterday in an OAA crossover match (25-12, 25-9 and 25-8).
In that contest, Bringard recorded 16 kills, Roth 17 digs, Davey 24 assists and Bland went 16/16 serving with a half dozen aces.
The Dragons now sit at to 2-2 in the wide-open OAA II and are 7-7-2 overall. They will host the league tournament in October.
‘Things are lined up for us,? Howey said. ‘We just have to build on this and keep playing well.?