Forget the OAA ? a new rivalry has emerged between the Lake Orion and Mercy High School varsity girls volleyball teams.
The Dragons lost to Mercy for the third time already this year and finished tied for third in its own Invitational last Saturday.
‘We did great in pool play, but we were kind of disappointed with the Mercy match because we made it close and then let it slip away in the second game,? Head Coach Bob Howey said. ‘We’re not satisfied with losing to Mercy. It’s become kind of sour grapes for us.?
Prior to facing Mercy, the Dragons shut down several teams. Howey said the girls played well during pool play, giving up no more than 17 points in any game.
Avondale was first to fall to the Dragons, who were able to control the ball better and keep the team off balance for both matches, which ended 25-11 and 25-11.
Next up was L’Anse Creuse. They put up a better fight but succumbed to Lake Orion’s accuracy and control. During the match, Lake Orion dropped shots in empty areas and took its time setting up accurate spikes. The Dragons won 25-13 and 25-14.
In the tournament’s playoff rounds, Lake Orion downed Marysville and Rochester Adams in tougher matches.
Lake Orion then faced off against Mercy. The Dragons fell in a hard fought first game, 25-21 and then lost the second, 25-8. Mercy went on to lose to Marion High School.
Howey said despite the good pool play the team was unsatisfied with certain aspects of their performance.
‘Ball control is the main thing, but we need to transition better and our setting really needs some work,? he said.
The Dragons competed against Pontiac in an OAA crossover game on Tuesday and will play again versus Ferndale in West Bloomfield tomorrow (Sept. 15.)