Dressed for success: Lake Orion slams Clarkston to become first OAA volleyball state finalist

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

BATTLE CREEK — Bob Howey almost never dresses up. In fact, he almost never tucks in his shirt on the sidelines for volleyball and softball games.

The Lake Orion volleyball coach did so Thursday evening at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena — and he liked it.

Dressed for a special occasion, his Dragons turned back third-ranked Clarkston, 3-1, to advance to the Class A state championship for the first time in school history. The Dragons are the first team since the inception of the Oakland Activities Association in 1994 to play for a state title in volleyball.

“I do now,” smiled Howey of his new-found dress code. “It’s not me, but you know what, they deserve it.”

Howey and his staff will again be in full dress on Saturday, as the Dragons will face Rockford at 2 p.m. for some championship hardware and try to bring home the OAA’s first volleyball state title.

Previously, Ferndale made the state finals in 1976, some 18 years before the creation of the OAA, and finished as the state runner-up. The Eagles had been the only school currently in the OAA to make it to the season’s final day. Lake Orion is the only school to make it as an active OAA member after a dominating effort over their arch-rivals in the semifinals.

REASON TO CELEBRATE: Lake Orion celebrated its first-ever state semifinals victory Thursday at Battle Creek's Kellogg Arena, topping Clarkston, 3-1. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotographer.com

Lake Orion, which is making its first trip to the Final Four since 1988, won the first game 25-17, only to see Clarkston even the match with a 25-16 edge in Game 2. The Dragons (54-12-3) posted wins of 25-16 and 25-22 in the final two sets to get past the Wolves.

The two teams were 2-2-0 against each other this season, setting the stage for the rubber match. Clarkston defeated Lake Orion, 3-2, back on Oct.17 to clinch the OAA Red Division title.

“We won the first two (games), they won the second two, so we figured it was our turn,” said Howey.

Lake Orion took Clarkston out of its game, keeping the ball away from Rachel Dickerson and Stephanie Marani. The Dragons had five players with five or more kills and their blocking game frustrated the Wolves all night.

“Our net play was probably better than theirs tonight,” said Howey. “That was our game plan (to step them at the net). They have some big hitters and we tried to set up a scheme for that and I think it worked out.”

Lake Orion finished 1-2 in tournaments this season against Rockford, its title game opponent.

“The same way, they are 1-2 against us so I think it’s our turn again,” added Howey.

Elizabeth Kalugar slammed 16 kills with 19 digs for her best game in the postseason to pace the Dragons. Shannon Murdock added 14 kills, Sophie Murdock chipped in with 11 kills and six blocks, Gwen Motley had 29 assists, Dana Schrauben followed with 23 assists and Maddie Hutchinson scooped up 45 digs for Lake Orion.

“We have a lot of hitters and I think we were all on our game,” offered Kalugar.

Maddie Lightfoot “played like a senior that didn’t want it to end,” according to Clarkston coach Kelly Avenall. Lightfoot finished with 31 digs, while Kaley Konjarevich added 13 kills for the Wolves.

“It was hard because Lake Orion was at the top of their game and weren’t,” said Avenall, whose team was making its first Final Four appearance. “I feel that Lake Orion was at the top of their game and played an excellent match. They didn’t make many mistakes and when they did, they didn’t let it bother them. They would answer back with five great attacks on us. They brought all of their firepower tonight.”

Both teams traded roles as the aggressor in the first two sets. Lake Orion dominated Game 1, jetting out to a 16-8 lead and maintaining a wide margin throughout the rest of the set.

DIGGING DEEP: Clarkston's Maddie Lightfoot left it all out on the floor during Thursday's 3-1 Class A state semifinal loss to Lake Orion. Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

Clarkston came out and grabbed a quick 6-2 advantage in the second set. Lake Orion tied it at 9-9 before the Wolves went on a 16-7 blitz to even the match at one game apiece.

In the final two games, Lake Orion held the lead for long stretches.

The Dragons opened up Game 3 with a 6-1 run and that lead ballooned up to 20-10. Lake Orion put the set away with a block-kill by Angelica LeDonne and a lethal slam by Kalugar.

In Game 4, Clarkston built a 7-4 advantage but could into sustain the momentum to force a fifth game. Lake Orion rallied back from a 17-15 deficit to grab a 20-18 lead and outscored Clarkston 5-4 down the stretch.

A serve from Maddie Hutchinson was not returned, sending Lake Orion into the title match.

To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com.  To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com . Follow us on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and more than a dozen other social media networks.

Tags: Clarkston Girls Volleyball, featured, Lake Orion Girls Volleyball, MHSAA Girls Volleyball Class A State Semifinals, volleyball

Category: Clarkston, Featured Articles, High School, High School (M-Z), Lake Orion, Prep Wraps