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.
