Birmingham Seaholm Preview

Written Sunday October 20th, at 12:30 AM

When you look at what is to take place on Tuesday might want to make the word hostile sound futile.

The Lake Orion lady Dragons will travel to Birmingham and the hostile environment crowd known as the Maples Nest to take on the Maples of Birmingham Seaholm.

The Dragons came off a five game survivor on Thursday against Oxford and lost last week to Clarkston in four games. Lake Orion defeated top ranked Macomb Dakota and handed the Cougars their first loss of the season in the Beast of the East Tournament on Saturday.

Birmingham Seaholm coming off a run in to the state quarterfinals last season knew they were going to be young this season (only four seniors on the roster) after losing Andrea Gothard and Erin Neudenfelt but have found some confidence in a tough five game loss to Clarkston but they are improving each day and is quickly growing into Coach Heather Lippert’s defensive scheme.

The Maples are led by their top wings in Sophomores Lauren McLeod, Kate Carey, and Anne Schechter. They are two very dynamic players but lack the varsity experience early. McLeod is a middle blocker but can play the wing at times have 13 kills against Clarkston on Tuesday. She had 16 kills against Oxford and Schechter has 11 kills against the Wildcats and Carey had five kills against the Wolves.

Also the Maples have experience from their quarterfinal team from a season ago in Maddie Varlese and Paige Zywicz. Birmingham Seaholm also has Madison Martin and Emma Schiefelbein. Martin is the team’s Liberio and Zywicz is a very good assist hitter. The experience on the court with Varlese and Zywicz has helped the younger players on the Maples this season.

“We needed a turning point for the season and this was it” said Lippert after Thursday’s loss to Clarkston.

Prediction: I look at this match up. The game is in the Maples Nest where the crowd always plays a huge factor in the match up and Maples coach Heather Lippert is one of the best defensive minded coaches in Oakland County in volleyball. Yes her team is young but with the confidence they have gotten against Clarkston it wouldn’t surprise me if this match goes five games. Young teams always play much better at home and with the crowd this will be very tough for the Dragons but in the end Lake Orion will find a way because of their experience in big games but Birmingham Seaholm has that too and will use the crowd to their advantage. PICK: LAKE ORION IN FIVE GAMES.