LAKE ORION vs Lowell:
Who would had ever thought that the Dragons would be back in
the Division One State Semifinals after last season’s State Championship run.
They lost 10 seniors and had a player transfer out this offseason but here they are as Lake Orion will play Lowell on Thursday at the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek at 4:30 PM.
Lake Orion has three seniors in Olivia Erwin, Courtney Andras, and Kylie Andras. The
Dragons were an honorable mention themselves. The path hasn’t been an easy road
for this young team. Lake Orion had to beat honorable mention and State ranked
Clarkston (6th), Oxford (HM), and Stoney Creek (9th)
along with Holly (Flint Metro Stripes Champs), and Mount Pleasant (Saginaw
Valley League Champs) in the postseason. The Dragons are led by their State
Championship returners in Kendall Robertson, Erwin, both Andras sisters, and
Regan Goeke. Lake Orion has had some young and emerging players that have contributed and are
becoming well known names in Nina Hoering, Lauren Staruch, and Taylor
Butkewictz.
Lowell is ranked second in the State behind Farmington Hills
Mercy who will be on the other side of the bracket as they will play Ann Arbor Skyline. The Red Arrows are loaded with a ton of talent led by outside hitter
Jenna Reistma, middle hitter Meghan Meyer. Both players received second and
third team all-state honors last season. Also second year coach Jordan Drake
has really toughened up his team’s schedule. He has seen contributions as well
from liberio Emma Hill and setter Sophie Powell. Reistma is the team’s top
player and has broken Lowell’s single season record for kills. The Red Arrows come
in with a 52-3 record with two losses to Hudsonville and one to the Marlins.
They have wins against Mattawan (3rd), Rockford, Hudsonville (4th)
and Cedar Springs in the tournament thus far.
The Dragons have met Lowell twice in tournaments with the
Red Arrows winning both meetings.
PREDICTION: The Dragons will have their hands full with
Lowell. The Red Arrows are loaded with talent as mentioned above. Reistma is
the real deal, there is a reason why she has broken the single season kills
record at Lowell. Lake Orion will have to play well and be mistake free if they
want to get back to the State Finals. I was wrong about picking against the
Dragons when picking Clarkston and Stoney Creek to win their district and
regional. I wonder if picking against them should motivate them once again.
PICK: LOWELL.
No comments:
Post a Comment