Dragons Fall in Heartbreaking Fashion to Romeo.

Written Tuesday November 10th at 10:45 PM

Heartbreak cannot describe what happened at Romeo on Tuesday night in a Regional Semifinal.

The fourth ranked Dragons battled their hearts out but in the end fell to the host school, the defending State Champions and sixth ranked Romeo Bulldogs in five games 25-23, 13-25, 21-25,25-21, 16-14.

The game had so many subplots.

1. The game being at Romeo with its small ceiling.

2. Maryland bound Gia Milana going up against two of her best friends in Jacksonville State bound Natalie Wehner and Kori Varney (All played on the same AAU National Championship team.)

3. Orion was without Lindsey Wightman due to an injury.

4. The referring was questionable on both sides, especially against the Dragons in the first game.

5. Two State ranked teams going up against each other with Orion winning three straight matches against Romeo heading into the game.

6. The elements and surroundings did not affect both the Dragons and especially not the Bulldogs being they were on their home court as they battled to the brink whom would meet Utica Eisenhower in the Regional Final on Thursday.

7. Two teams played their guts and hearts out. It had the feeling just like a State Final or Semifinal Match, it was intense as both communities and student sections came out and supported their team either in Dragon Green or Bulldog Red.

8. Both teams had their chances to win the game.

9. Sadly one team had to lose, and it was Orion.

The Dragons were led by Oakland bound Courtney Wightman’s 19 kills, Wehner had 14 kills, and Wies Hurkmans had 13 kills. Leah Kalugar had 10 kills and four aces and Wren McCauley had four aces as well. Varney had 42 assists in the game.

Romeo was led by Milana whom had 40 kills, 13 digs, seven blocks, and three aces. Jodie Kelly had ten kills and 12 digs while Breanna Olley had 46 assists and 12 digs.

Orion finished the season 62-8, which is the most wins in Dragons Volleyball history.

 

Dragons Win District Title BUT Toughest Challenge Awaits.

Written Saturday November 7th at 12:00 AM

The Orion Dragons did win their first district title since 2011 when they beat the Oxford Wildcats 25-12, 27-25, and 25-19 but what will await them will probably be their greatest challenge in the Regional Semifinals.

Orion coach Tony Scavarda created the Wildcats performance and mental toughness especially in the second and third sets. "I was happy with the way we came out in the first set right away. I was worried though because we played them one time before that we had them in the first set and then let down in the second and they played us a lot tougher just like they did in the second set tonight. We made a lot of hitting errors hitting wise which I think is a little uncharacteristic of us so I think we can clean that up a lot" Scavarda said to MIPrepzone Oakland writer Matt MacKinder.

The Dragons (62-7) were led by Natalie Wehner's 12 kills. Leah Kalugar and Wies Hurkmans had seven kills and Lindsay Wightman had nine digs on the night.

The challenge will not get any easier for Orion as they will travel to Romeo to take on the Bulldogs on Tuesday at 7 PM. The first game will be Fenton taking on Utica Eisenhower at 5:30 PM at Romeo.

Why would it be a challenge???

Romeo has a low ceiling which could be a huge advantage for the Bulldogs in this match-up along with one of the State's best players in Maryland bound Gia Milana.

Romeo is also the defending State Champions and have took out two MAC powers in Macomb Dakota and Anchor Bay both in three sets in the district tournament. Besides Milana, coach Stacey Williams will counter with its fair share of experience as well in Brianna Olley, Erica LeBeare, Jodie Kelly, Amber Flinn, Payton Klein, and Lindsey Webber.

The Bulldogs feel that home court being in a small gym with a low ceiling will work to their advantage. "Going into our home gym we feel pretty confident. Lake Orion has beaten us in the past but we work better together at home. I'm excited. Our low ceiling gym will play to our advantage" said Olley to MIPrepzone Macomb writer Chuck Pleiness.

Does Orion have a Chance in Romeo???

Absolutely they do but they are going to have to play well and limit mistakes. The Dragons have played in small gyms before like Farmington and also in Middle School where Scripps and Waldon have very low ceilings.

The Dragons have played the Bulldogs before in tournaments and beaten them. Orion has had the Bulldogs number this season with tournament wins at Portage Central (2-0), the Beast of the East in quarterfinals (2-1), and recently at Seaholm (2-1.) They know Romeo very well.

There is no pressure on Orion, Romeo is at home and usually if things don't go well for the home team then teams get tight.

Dragons outside hitter Natalie Wehner and liberio Kori Varney played with Milana on it's National Championship Team in AAU Volleyball so you know their is a connection right there.

This match will likely go five games so we'll see what happens.

Dragons Exercise Demons.

Written Monday November 2nd, at 11:10 PM


The Dragons have finally completed their exorcism of the Wolves.

After years of frustration, Orion was 1-7 since 2011 against Clarkston but things started to change this season.

In the regular season meeting the fourth ranked Dragons beat the Wolves in three games 25-21, 25-17, and 26-24 where they ended Clarkston’s reign of eight straight Red titles

However there was still some doubt in wondering if they can win the playoff meeting with the Wolves.

They did, in three hard fought games, just like the game at Orion. The Dragons prevailed 25-23, 25-22, 25-16 on Monday night at Waterford Kettering ending the reign of Clarkston’s eight straight district champions.

The girl leading the charge was Courtney Wightman.

Wightman came back from an ankle injury that cost her the final few weeks of the regular season. She came back in a big way bringing her experience into play tonight with 16 kills.

Natalie Wehner (12 kills), Kori Varney (30 digs), Wies Hurkmans (seven kills and three blocks), Lindsey Wightman (ten defensive saves), Wren MaCaulay (19 assists), and Leah Kalugar (24 assists) showed up huge tonight and played well. This could be the biggest win in Coach Tony Scavarda’s head coaching career.

Clarkston (35-17-1) had a solid game plan by going up and blocking every kill attempt Orion gave them led by their star junior outside hitter Abby Malinowski who finished with ten kills and Maggie Collins had nine kills on the night.

The Dragons also made some errors which is something they need to work on.

Orion (59-6) moves on to the district semifinals as they will play Pontiac on Wednesday at Waterford Kettering at 7 PM. Oxford and Waterford Kettering will play in the first match on Wednesday at 5 PM.