Dragons Win a Wild One over the Colts

Written Thursday September 20th, at 11:13 PM

Tonight the volleyball atmosphere was more like a college football atmosphere. More of the former Big 12 variety  Especially a former Big 12 Rivalry, Nebraska vs Texas.

Troy played the role as the Huskers while Lake Orion played the role of the Longhorns. Tonight did not disappoint.

Experts this season at Troy thought that the transition from the White to the Red would be dangerous especially with a senior laden team, that's what Troy has in 2012. The Colts were projected to finish third in the Dragons Den preseason volleyball poll and was the dark-horse along with having a new coach in Tony Muscatt. The Dragons were projected to win the Red this season despite being ranked in the state poll behind Clarkston.

Tonight they lived up to expectations.

Even though the Colts fell 25-19, 25-17, 20-25, 18-25, 20-22 to the sixth ranked team in the state in Lake Orion, Troy dominated the first two games with shocking victories in the Dragons Den.

In the long run, this game will help both teams get better.

I thought tonight the senior laden Colts came ready to play, led by Nicole Hahn, Lindsey Moeller, Hope Keating, and Olivia Parks. They all did well tonight but the one that really played well for Troy was Lexie Pullen. Pullen I thought played well. She got kills at the right time and at times kept the Dragons off balance for Coach Tony Muscatt’s crew.

The sixth ranked Dragons coming off a state championship appearance had stars made tonight as well. Sophomore, Hannah Murdock is following the footsteps where her older sister Shannon left off especially with kills (15 kills). Also another star emerged in senior Tess Marshall. Marshall got hurt and missed the season last year but a fresh start and now being in the front row will help her get better.

The Dragons fortune turned after coach Ross Talbott made a move to bring in junior Olivia Hale in the third game. Hale made an immediate impact especially on the right side where the Dragons were just getting hammered all night by the Colts front line.

The match that made the night was Game five. Troy took the first two games while Lake Orion answered by taking the next two games.

Game five ended up becoming a battle of wills.

Lake Orion took a 14-6 lead early thanks in part to both Murdock's and crew. The Dragons tried to close out the game but an ankle injury to Hannah Murdock took her out of the game. That gave Troy the spark they desperately needed. Also what didn’t help was Coach Ross Talbott received a yellow card by the referees and Lake Orion appeared to be falling apart at the scene of the crime.

Kills by Parks, Moeller, Hahn, and Pullen gave Troy a 9-0 run and a 15-14 lead but Lake Orion answered to tie it then it became a back and fourth see-saw with Troy getting the lead three times in that span while Lake Orion had it three times. It came down to yet another emerging star.

Kaitlyn Rockey.

Rockey has already made an impact for this Dragon team this season. She played well against Adams but had two crucial blocks to help seal the win over Troy. Dragons star, Sophie Murdock struggled at times tonight but came through in the clutch when her team needed her the most, (15 kills, five blocks) Gabby Kalugar had 21 digs while Sabrina Cottrell had 31 assists. Marshall had eight kills for Lake Orion.

Moeller had 41 assists while Parks had 16 kills. Pullen had 12 kills for the Colts in the loss. Hahn added 10 kills for Troy.

The Dragons are now 21-6, 2-0 in the Red while Troy falls to 14-9-1, and 1-1 in the Red. Troy still has to play Clarkston at home on October 4th while Lake Orion travels to Clarkston on October 18^th.

The second ranked Wolves better look out because the Colts can play with them. They will have confidence to get done against Kelly Avernall’s team.

The Dragons will go to Portage (near Kalamazoo) for the Portage Central Invitational all day on Saturday and then return home on Tuesday October 2^nd against Rochester and Thursday October 4^th against Birmingham Seaholm. The Colts return home to play Oxford on Thursday September 27^th.

Tonight both teams played their hearts out. It’s sad that one team had to lose this game. Both teams are good teams that will be heard from this November once the postseason arrives.