Long time coming: Dragons overcome slow start, Dakota to reach semifinals for first time in 23 years
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
ST. CLAIR SHORES — Lake Orion has been infamous for slow starts this season on the volleyball court. Fortunately, the Dragons have the firepower to recover.
That was the case Tuesday in Lake Orion’s first state quarterfinals game in 23 years.
The Dragons rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Cougars at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore to advance to the Class A Final Four for the first time since 1988.
Dakota won the first two games, 28-26 and 25-21, with the Dragons rolling back with wins of 25-14 and 25-22 to force a Game 5. Lake Orion won the fifth game, 15-13.
“I don’t know what it is, but seem to play better sometimes with our backs against the wall,” offered Bob Howey, Lake Orion’s fifth-year head coach.
ALL SMILES: Lake Orion's Sophie Murdock and the Dragons celebrated a 3-2, come-from-behind victory Tuesday over Macomb Dakota that lands them in the Final Four. File Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com
Lake Orion (53-12-3) advances to Thursday’s Class A state semifinals at Battle Creek Kellogg Arena, where arch-rival and league foe Clarkston awaits at 7 p.m. Dakota finishes the year at 32-13-2 with its first-ever MAC Red Division, district and regional titles in hand.
In the fifth game, Lake Orion led 4-0 early and extended its lead to 11-8 and 13-8. The Cougars made one last push to tie the game at 13-13 before the Dragons scored the final two points on the night.
“I had confidence that we could beat this team. We had already beat them twice this season,” offered Howey. “I give Dakota credit because they were better this time than the last two times we played them. I thought that we were a better team. I just thought that if we could get our confidence back, then we would be fine. But the question was, would we get it back?”
The Dragons did get it back to win the final three games.
Lake Orion scored the final two points, the last with Shannon Murdock’s serve bounding off two Dakota players and into the net, which sends the Dragons into final weekend of the season.
Murdock led a balanced effort with 21 kills, 13 digs and three blocks. Liz Kalugar added 11 kills and 18 digs, Sophie Murdock provided nine kills and four blocks, Maddie Hutchinson had 32 digs and Dana Schrauben (27 kills) and Gwen Motley (24 assists) were steady hands for the Dragons.
Howey felt his team’s balance was a key to coming back.
“I thought we had more hitters than they did. That makes us tough to stop,” added Howey. “But our defense was big the last couple of games. Maddie Hutchinson came up big for us, came through with some big (digs) for us. She played a great game overall.”
The stage is set for the Final Four in each class, with Rockford facing Temperance Bedford and Clarkston meeting Lake Orion in Class A.
Lake Orion and Clarkston have plenty of history, not only as arch rivals less than 15 miles apart playing in multiple sports for decades. The two have played four times this season in volleyball, going 2-2-0 against one another.
Clarkston won the last meeting one month ago, that coming in the OAA Red Division title-deciding game.
“I was rooting for them for a lot of reasons,” said Howey. “First, it we both won, it is great for our league because no one has made it this far and that would guarantee our league a team in the finals. And to play them again gives us some even more motivation. We beat them the first two times and they beat us two other times, including in that league title match. The girls remember that loss.”
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Category: Featured Articles, High School, High School (M-Z), Lake Orion, Prep Wraps
SPRING SPORTS ALL-AREA LINKS 2011:
Presenting the 2011 All-Area Boys Track & Field Team
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Lake Orion/OAA Volleyball Teams: http://northoaklandsports.com/2011/11/15/refuse-to-lose-dragons-combine-talent-chemistry-to-make-run-to-elite-eight/
Lake Orion wins first regional since 1988: http://northoaklandsports.com/2011/11/12/lake-orion-captures-first-regional-title-since-1988/
Clarkston knocks out Midland for second straight regional: http://northoaklandsports.com/2011/11/11/clarkston-delivers-chemics-knockout-poison-in-regional-finals/
Volleyball Links: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=volleyball&x=12&y=13
STEPHANIE MARANI: http://northoaklandsports.com/2011/11/10/aotw-mirani-stands-tall-to-give-clarkston-some-net-presence/
State Rankings: http://northoaklandsports.com/2011/11/11/girls-volleyball-state-rankings-%E2%80%94-nov-7/
Oakland nets Summit League berth: http://northoaklandsports.com/2011/11/14/golden-grizzlies-volleyball-nets-summit-league-tournament-berth/
Clarkston trips up Lake Orion for OAA-Red title: http://northoaklandsports.com/2011/10/18/when-powers-collide-clarkston-takes-down-lake-orion-for-oaa-red-division-title/
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