By Dan Shriner
Review Editor
Lake Orion’s volleyball team is seeking to go where no Dragon volleyball team has gone before.
The lady Dragons were sporting a 30-1 record last week and were ranked second in the state in Division 1. But it isn’t enough to be good. They hope to be the best this year, both in the OAA Red Division and in the state.
Coach Tony Scarvada believes he has the team that could go all the way. Coaches are usually reluctant to make predictions but Scarvada said his squad is the best he has had and they are playing very well in tournaments, having won three already and finished second in another.
‘We want to win the OAA Red this season. We have never won it. And then we want to get through the districts and make a run.?
The team was expected to be one of the state’s better teams this year but were blessed with the additions of two transfer students, sisters Lindsay and Courtney Wightman. The sisters, who were both all-state players, transferred from Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes.
‘We were a top 10 team without them and with them we are a contender,? Scarvada said. ‘We have eight seniors on the team and the girls are really focused.?
Scarvada and his team knows that you have to take things day by day. He said the team’s first goal is to win the OAA Red. That means they will have to knock of defending champion Clarkston as well as a tough Seaholm team.
‘Clarkston is the team to beat. They are the league champions,? Scarvada said.
The teams will meet at Lake Orion on October 1.
The Dragons have played Clarkston twice this season in tournament play and won both times. The ladies have won tournaments at Saline, Dakota and in their 40-team tournament held at Brownstown.
Their only loss this year came against Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard in the finals at a tournament at Novi two weeks ago.
Gabriel Richard is a Division 2 team, and looks like they have the best in the state in any division, Scarvada said. The knocked off the number one ranked team in Division 1, Novi, before also beating Lake Orion in the finals of the tournament.
The focus of the team now is to get through the OAA Red, which is considered one of the top leagues in Michigan. Lake Orion certainly has the skills and talent to win the league title.
The Dragons senior captains are Natalie Wehner, Koreen Varney, and Marley Redd.
Wehner is an outside hitter and Varney is the team’s libero. Scarvada said he believes Varney is the best in the state. With all-stater Courtney Wightman at outside hitter and her sister on the backline as a defensive specialist, Scarvada said the team has some great weapons.
Courtney Wightman has become the team’s go-to hitter Scarvada said. She is one of ten finalists for Miss Volleyball in Michigan.
Junior Leah Kalugar and senior Weis Hurkmans, at inside hitter, provide even more strength. Hurkman’s is the teams highest percentage hitter and is a strong candidate to be all state.
Scarvada said the team is very focused and said the Wightman sisters have fit in very well with their teammates. They also brought some experience of having made it to the state finals and semifinals in 2013 and 2014.
‘There are both very likeable and meshed very well with their teammates. I could not ask for a better situation.?