Head Coach Tiffany Sayles had been in the Davison program for nearly 2 Decades but heading into her 2nd Year as Head Coach of the Cardinals’ Varsity Squad, she and her team were running into some of the same stumbling blocks. The 2020 Season had marked the 3rd Straight Season of falling to Grand Blanc in the Districts but this year felt different. The Cardinals marched through league play and claimed the outright Saginaw Valley League Championship but the tournament ahead would present familiar challenges.
“Winning the conference was a great experience for all of the program. The Varsity girls may have been on the court but the younger levels were watching what it takes and supporting their teammates.” – Coach Sayles
The very beginning of the tournament would also present a little game adversity. The Cardinals dropped the first set to Linden, leaving Davison a set down, in a season where they accomplished so much but had aspirations of so much more. Davison regrouped with a fire lit under them and won the next 3 sets with a combined score of 75-24. The win then set up a date with Grand Blanc for the 4th Straight season in the Districts. Davison took the first set but Grand Blanc bounced back and evened it up at 1 after 2 frames. Just as they had the match before, the Cards turned up the intensity and took the next 2 sets, outscoring the Bobcats 50-30. It was a great win for the program but it also meant so much emotionally.
“Those girls were definitely focused on one game at a time. But always had beating Grand Blanc in mind. Always great competition and excitement when those teams are playing each other.” – Coach Sayles
With a Conference Championship, a District Championship and win over their Rival Bobcats, this already would have been a nice story. These Cardinals weren’t done however. The took down Flushing 3 Sets to 1 in the Regionals and then for the Regional Championship, took out Traverse City West in straight sets! The Match finished in 3 sets but the first and third sets needed extra games, proving the mettle of Davison to come through in the clutch. The Banner season would come to a close in the Quarters, as they faced off with what would be the eventual State Champion, Marian.
“Making it to quarter finals was definitely a focus from the minute we found out we were listed as the host school. Definitely lit a fire in them when the site was changed but that didn’t change the intensity in practice. It was heartbreaking losing to a very talented Marion team.” – Coach Sayles
2021 would produce 5 All-Conference Players; Olivia Dirske, Amanda Glanton, Allison Hawk, Morgann King and Jenna Sayles. For 2022, gone are Dirske, Glanton and Haw but a talented group remains; led by returning All-SVL Seniors King & Sayles, along with big things expected from fellow Senior Brooklynn Wilcox.
“These girls along with other seniors Rachel Glanton, Emma Harris and Gabi Stevens are setting expectations high in practice, to continue winning come game time.” – Coach Sayles
Like we see so many times and is just one of the many things we love about sports, is the bond that is formed from a young age between athletes and between athletes and the sport itself. 2022 will be a swan song for the Mother/Daughter dynamic between Coach Sayles and here daughter Jenna, the All-Conference Cardinal who will be heading to Lake Erie College to continue her Academic and Volleyball Career in the Fall of ’23.
“For me, volleyball has always been a part of my life. I was practically born courtside, since my mom is a coach and was constantly being passed around in the stands. I was always at practices, games and tournaments. Always having a ball in my hands no matter how small my hands were or how big they are now. Being in the gym that much made me fall in love with the sport of volleyball, more than words can truly explain.” – Jenna Sayles
SVL Conference play kicks off for the Cardinals on Thursday at Midland Dow. The League Championship title defense will present with it many challenges and they will have to make do without 3 shining stars from a year ago but for those Cardinals that helped make their magical run happen last year and the confidence it created in the program overall; The path ahead is no longer filled with uncertainties of what could of been, rather it’s been illuminated with what it takes to get there and get through.