Dragons Volleyball clicking, ranked for the first time in 24 years and stock is rising.

Written Friday September 23rd, at 10:45 AM.

The Dragons Volleyball program knew they were going to be good this season but to be ranked in the state for the first time since the 1987-1988 season has never happened before.

Until now.

This week the Dragons were ranked ninth in the state poll, which pleased fifth year Dragons coach Bob Howey and his experienced troops but had they to focus on OAA Red play and Bloomfield Hills Lahser in Bloomfield Hills Tuesday night at the angle court which is Lahser.

The Dragons had no problem with the Knights, hammering them in games one and two by a combined 50-22 score (25-15, 25-7 respectably.) The third game got interesting, Howey did some experimenting with his lineup which was almost was disaster. The Dragons managed to hang on and win 28-26, ending the match at three games to none. "I switched some thing up a bit, tried some new things just to see. It really should have not been that close. Lahser is a little young this year" Howey said.

The Dragons were led by Senior's Shannon Murdock's (14), Taylor Hargraves (12)combined 26 kills. Senior Gwen Motley added 29 assists while Senior Maddie Hutchinson had 23 digs for Lake Orion.

Lake Orion's record is now 21-5-1 overall and 2-0 in OAA Red play, tied with seventh ranked Clarkston. The team's only losses being to top ranked Farmington Hills Mercy (three times), second ranked and defending state champ Birmingham Marian, and third ranked Rockford in tournaments. However the Dragons did get some revenge on Marian in Wixom in the Constellation Final.

The Dragons schedule is considered to many teams and experts as "Murders Row", very similar to that of the Southeastern Conference in football but the team has got stronger every-time they hit the court. Howey explained that the schedule is not all bad. “We beat Marian the last time we played them (In Wixom). 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 Dragons trouble has came this season is against top ranked Farmington Hills Mercy. Orion so far are 0-3 against the Marlins, something Howey is very alarmed about. "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," Howey added on Farmington Hills Mercy.

That mindset they do. Orion had their own tournament (semifinalist, lost to Farmington Hills Mercy), played at Macomb Dakota in their tournament (semifinalist, lost to Farmington Hills Mercy), won the Hartland Tournament, and of course played in the Mercy Showcase where they played Farmington Hills Mercy, Rockford, and Birmingham Marian in Wixom.

If the playoffs and the schedule roll smoothly (districts at Rochester with Rochester, Adams, Rochester, Rochester Stoney Creek, and Oxford) in the postseason the Dragons could have another crack at the Mustangs in the regional final and that regional final is at Lake Orion to make it more interesting. "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. 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" Howey said.”

There are three big games on the OAA Red slate that are big for the Dragons. The game October 4th at Birmingham won't be easy as the team takes on the Maples of Birmingham Seaholm and probably the best player in the state in Miss Volleyball candidate Senior Paige Neudenfelt. The Dragons do have two big home dates on the schedule when the Farmington Falcons come to Orion October 6th. The Falcons have been doing really well lately and just beat Rochester Thursday Night. Farmington does have four losses, three in tournaments, and the one in the Red was to Clarkston. The statement game for the Dragons is October 18th when the seventh ranked Clarkston Wolves comes to Orion for a possible OAA Red and top ten showdown. The Wolves are a very young team but have talent every year, just like the Dragons do from the Middle School programs, travel teams, on up.

This weekend Orion will go to Portage to compete in the Portage Central Invite and see some of the top teams in the state. Birmingham Marion will also be there at that tournament, could it be round three with the Mustangs??? we'll find out. The next OAA Red match up for the team is on Tuesday when the Dragons will travel to Rochester to face a young Falcons team going through a transition of coaches and recent losses to gradation have killed the Falcons. Rochester's record coming in to the match up with Orion is 6-16, 0-2 OAA Red.

Howey tries to find tournaments that can make his team better before they go into postseason play when it all counts.“We’re playing in some of the best tournament his season and playing a bunch of great teams. 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, he said.”

The Dragons have plenty of opportunities to get better and go deep this season.