Sunday, November 4, 2018

The 2018 edition of the lady Dragon Volleyball team has traits of the 2011 team.

Written Sunday November 4th at 6:05 PM

I remember the 2011 season quite well in which the Lake Orion community had Volleyball title dreams. It was when then coach Bob Howey took the Dragons to the State Semifinals at the Delta Plex in Battle Creek where they would beat Clarkston in four games but would fall to Rockford in the State Finals in a three game sweep.

It was a great accomplishment to see the pride of Lake Orion in the west side of the State.

I wonder if ever, they would get back to the Kellogg Center??

Seven years later the Dragons have that chance.

Lake Orion in 2011 was a senior heavy team and had players like Shannon Murdock, Liz Kalugar, Gabby Kalugar, Sophie Murdock, Hannah Murdock, Taylor Hargraves, Dana Schrauben, Melanie Heath, Rachel Livingway, and Maddie Hutchinson that made their mark especially beating the likes of Birmingham Marian coached by Irick Gardner and Macomb Dakota that had Carly Snyder whom would go to Florida to play College Volleyball.

The Dragons from 2012-2017 had their chances to do something great but it was either injuries or running through Clarkston or even Romeo when they were loaded led by Gia Milana whom is now at Maryland that derailed their seasons.

This year’s Lake Orion team which is coached by Tony Scavarda whom has done a great job with this team and program. This team has some very similar traits to that of the 2011 team, very senior heavy and talented. The Dragons have two outside hitters in Paige Briggs and Sydney Smith along with Wren MaCaulay setting. Ciara Livingway (Rachel’s sister) and Lauren Bell share Liberio duties. Also Girls Basketball standout Kendall Robinson along with Reagan Goeke handle the middle and they have key players in Leigah Boes, Anika Devendorf, Olivia Long, Sydney Grupenhoff, and Riley Hunter playing big roles as well.

As the Dragons head into the regional, I recall the 2011 regional really well. I lost my voice when Lake Orion played Birmingham Marian that night announcing the game at Lake Orion High School in the regional semifinal. The Mustangs were the two time defending Michigan High School Athletic Association State Champions and the Dragons beat them at home in four games. I remember the crowd storming the court after the upset, it was a great feeling for the girls that night as coaches Howey, former Lake Orion assistant and Stoney Creek head coach Ross Talbott, and John Kalugar high fiving and celebrating along with coach Livingway. That night was a night I would never forget in my career.

When I look at this year’s regional, there are some interesting storylines. Talbott and Scavarda are close friends. Scavarda used to be the Junior Varsity coach under Talbott when he was at Lake Orion. Talbott brings his Stoney Creek Cougars with him to Lake Orion. The Cougars beat the Dragons for the Red title in five games and has a boatload of talent and experience led by Stephanie Smith, Nino Billoto, Sara Thompson, Ava Menzo, and Kate Stration. Troy whom is Lake Orion’s first opponent in the regional is no stranger to the Dragons as they too play in the Red. The Colts are coached by Tom Vigilant who also had Lake Orion ties as he coached the Lake Orion Club program during the Howey years. Vigilant has his fair share of stars led by Jessica Robinson, Athena Sampson, Faith Keading, and Fran McBride. I see that Walled Lake Northern is in this regional but is not well known as the other three teams. They have come a long way and play in the Lakes Valley Conference where they finished second behind South Lyon whom is also still playing. The Knights are very young with only three seniors but is talented for coach Terry Baugman who one time applied for the same Lake Orion job after Talbott left. Walled Lake Northern is led by four very solid players in Olivia Miller, Delia Bechman, Amelia Rienhart, and Lauren Scott.

The regional will be interesting to say the least.

Could this be the time for the Dragons to finally break through?

We’ll find out.

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