Year: Senior

Sport: Volleyball

GPA: 4.02

Parents: Melissa and Robert Macaulay

Owning a 7-0 record in Oakland Activities Association (OAA) Red Division play, the Lake Orion volleyball program is on the verge of capturing their first league title since 2017.

One of the main reasons the team is free of losses in conference play is senior setter Jaina Macaulay, a three-year varsity player for head coach Tony Scavarda and one of the program’s leaders on and off the court.

For Macaulay, volleyball is a family affair, something that has been part of her life for as long as she’s been old enough to play the game. Her mother, Melissa, played collegiately for Oakland University and coached at Lake Orion High School, guiding the junior varsity program, and serving on Scavarda’s staff from 2014-20.

Her sister, Wren, was a member of the Dragons’ only state championship team in 2018 and currently sets for the New Hampshire Wildcats in the America East Conference at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level.

Having a mother and older sister with extensive backgrounds in the game has been particularly beneficial for Macaulay as she has grown throughout her career, and she points to them as some of the key figures that have helped her reach this point.

“I would definitely say a big part of it has been my family,” she began. “We’re big sports people, especially volleyball, much of my close and extended family all play volleyball.

“Basically, I’ve been surrounded by it my whole life. My sister, she plays for the University of New Hampshire, she’s a good inspiration for me, so I would have to say my family helps me a lot.”

Outside of the high school season, Macaulay plays for the Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy, one of the state’s top club programs.

During the high school season, however, which stretches from August-to-November, she credits Scavarda as having a big role in her success, mainly pointing to the consistent and calming presence his coaching style provides.

“Tony has been a big help, he’s been really consistent for me,” she shared. “Over the years, I’ve had so many different coaches and I would always have to adjust to their coaching style. It’s very nice to have Tony for a very long time because I can come back and settle into what I already know, just kind of play how we play.”

As a sophomore in 2019, Macaulay was part of the team that captured both the district and regional championship and advanced to the state semifinals at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena, where they fell to the eventual state runner-up Lowell Red Arrows of the Ottawa-Kent Conference.

Rounding out her prep career, a return to Battle Creek is the top priority for Macaulay.

“States,” she said simply of her goals for this season.

“I want to make it back to states, I got a taste of it sophomore year and I want to go back for the whole thing this year.”

Not only has Macaulay been on the varsity roster for three years, but she has also been a starter the entire time. Scavarda, who is his eighth year at the helm of the program, points to her leadership and continued improvement as the areas he is most proud of.

“Really, since she stepped in as a sophomore, she’s been a great leader on the team,” he said. “She’s played since she started, been a starter all three years, and has always produced well and improved year-by-year.

“She’s really setting a great pace, following in her sister’s footsteps. Obviously, it’s difficult because her sister was such a great player, but Jaina is a great player in her own right and is kind of trying to pave her own way.

“What I like most about her is her leadership, she has some great leadership skills. Having a mom as a coach definitely helps.”

One of Lake Orion’s strengths this season is the talent the team possesses at the outside and opposite hitter spots in junior Nina Horning – a Cincinnati Bearcats commit – and seniors Lauren Peters and Piper Talaga. This trio scores many of the Dragons’ points, but their lives would be much more difficult without Macaulay and her fellow setters putting the volleyball in a place that allows them to succeed.

“I think she’s just become a lot more consistent in everything she does,” Scavarda said of where he’s seen the most growth in Macaulay’s game over the last three seasons.

“Location of where she’s setting the ball, her decision-making is always improving. I think that’s probably the next step for her, I know she’s probably going to play somewhere at the next level, but to take that next step as a player is to hone in that decision-making even more.”

As Scavarda shared, Macaulay is hoping to continue her volleyball career at the collegiate level. She is yet to commit to a school but has some offers from Division II programs and has taken a couple of recruiting visits.

Macaulay and her teammates will round out their OAA Red schedule on Tuesday, October 26 by traveling to Troy High School to clash with the Colts at 7 p.m.

The team will begin Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) District No. 8 play at Oxford High School on Wednesday, November 3 by facing the winner of Rochester Adams and Oxford in the semifinals at 5 p.m.

— T. Rydquist