Level Headed: Ninth-ranked Dragons keeping state ranking in stride

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

LAKE ORION — Rankings are a huge part of sports. They often don’t measure up to an exact science, but they exist in just about every sport and at just about every level.

So when Lake Orion’s volleyball team learned Monday that the Dragons were ranked in the state for the first time since the 1987-88 winter season, they did not let the new status go to their heads.

The Dragons continued one of the best starts in school history, moving to 21-5-1 overall and 2-0 in the OAA Red Division with a 3-0 sweep Tuesday night of visiting Bloomfield Hills Lahser.

Lake Orion, ranked ninth in Class A, defeated the Knights 25-15, 25-7, 28-26 to keep the Dragons in a first-place tie with seventh-ranked Clarkston in the OAA-Red lead.

“Now we just have to learn how to stay up here,” said Lake Orion coach Bob Howey, whose team won 41 games last fall and reached the Sweet 16 of the postseason before falling to state powerhouse Birmingham Marian. “It’s been a long, long time since we’ve had expectations here like we do this season. I think they are handling it well. We knew we could be a team that gets ranked this season. We have almost our entire team back.”

REASON TO CELEBRATE: Lake Orion junior Sophie Murdock is one of 12 returning letterwinners and one of many key players for the Dragons, who reached the Class A Sweet 16 last season and are ranked this week for the first time in 23 years. File Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

Lake Orion returned 12 of 15 players from its regional-finalists squad and is expected to not only be a league-title contender but also be a team talented enough to make a lengthy run in the postseason.

The Dragons only graduated two players from last year’s roster, Linnea Berriman and Alyssa Wesley. Berriman is playing volleyball and throwing the discus at Adrian College, while Wesley is playing soccer at Grand Valley State.

“Everyone else is back,” reminded Howey. “We lost two very athletic players, but we have a lot of our best players back and a lot of depth. And our junior varsity is very talented, so I know we have some good players coming up next year. We have eight seniors this year, so there will be some openings next year.”

With so many upperclassmen, Lake Orion hopes to make some noise in 2011.The Dragons made quick work of Lahser, although the third game has some drama as Howey played reserves in the game after the regulars rolled through the first two games.

“I switched some things up a bit, tried some new things just to see. It really should not have been that close. Lahser is a little young this year,” said Howey.

On this night, Shannon Murdock led the Dragons with 14 kills. Taylor Hargraves added 12 kills, Maddie Hutchinson chipped in with 23 digs and Gwen Motley served up 29 assists in the sweep, as the Dragons again showcased plenty of balance in the lineup, which normally goes 10-12 deep.

Lake Orion has only lost five games, all in tournaments, in the first month of the season. Each of those defeats have been to Class A state-ranked teams. The Dragons have three losses to top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy, and single losses to defending state champ Birmingham Marian, which is ranked second, and to third-ranked Rockford.

“We beat Marian the last time we played them,” explained Howey. “We played Rockford in the first tournament of the season and when we played them, it was our fourth consecutive game. I think they are beatable. The one team we need to learn how to beat is Mercy. They have our number right now. That team is so strong defensively that they frustrate everybody. Our girls are used to kills hitting the floor. Against Mercy, they dig them out, which is why they are so tough to beat. We’ll hopefully see them again in a couple of more tournaments.

“I think if we are to make a run in the postseason, then we’re going to have to learn how to beat all types of teams,” continued Howey. “We have the talent. I think if we’re going to take another step or two this season, then we still have work to do. Last year we lost to Marian in the regional finals. This year if things go right, then we’ll be in the same regional as Marian — and they are beatable this season. With teams like that, you first have to believe that you can beat them. The mental side is part of it.”

Lake Orion opened the season by taking home the trophy at the Hartland Tournament. The Dragons were also semifinalists at the Macomb Dakota Invitational, Mercy Showcase and the Lake Orion Invitational.

Lake Orion will travel to the Portage Central Tournament his Saturday, where a field of several state-ranked and powerhouse programs from Class A, Class B and Class C will be amongst the participating field.

“We’re playing in some of the best tournament his season and playing a bunch of great teams,” offered Howey. “Some might be against that. But I am trying to make us into a team that can consistently be ranked every season and has the talent to make a run. You can’t do that playing weak competition. We’re going to play a lot of great teams this season and hopefully that will prepare us for anything.”

Tags: featured, GirlsVolleyball, Lake Orin Girls Volleyball, OAA Red Division Girls volleyball, volleyball

Category: Featured Articles, High School, High School (M-Z), Lake Orion, Prep Wraps