Performance of the Week: Lake Orion's Nina Horning

September 15, 2022

Lake Orion's Nina HorningNina Horning ♦ Lake Orion
Volleyball ♦ Senior

Horning put another exclamation point on the recent announcement that she’s one of 10 finalists for this year’s Miss Volleyball Award by leading Lake Orion past Division 2 then-No. 3 Detroit Country Day 25-11, 25-17, 25-19 on Sept. 8. Horning had 10 kills during the third set alone and is approaching 1,400 kills for her career.

The 6-foot-5 outside hitter is a four-year varsity player for the Dragons, as she joined the program the season after Lake Orion won the Division 1 title led by another standout hitter, then-senior Paige Briggs. Horning made the Division 1 all-state second team as a sophomore and first team as a junior after leading her team to Oakland Activities Association Red and District titles. She has committed to continue her academic and volleyball careers at University of Cincinnati; she's interested in studying physical therapy.

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MI Student Aid

Second Half’s "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

2022-23 Honorees

Sept 8: Arturo Romero, Muskegon Oakridge soccer - Report
Sept. 1:
Austin King, Midland Dow tennis - Report
Aug. 25:
Olivia Hemmila, Troy Athens golf - Report

(Photos courtesy of Nina Horning.)

Be the Referee: Libero Ejected

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management

September 8, 2026

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Libero Ejected - Listen

We’re on the volleyball court today, where the home team only had one libero listed.

In the middle of the first set, that libero is disqualified for making vulgar comments to the first referee.

Can the home team now designate a new libero? Or do they play without a libero for the rest of the match? Or for just the rest of that set before picking a new libero?

If you said they must play the rest of the set without a libero and then can designate a new one before the start of the second set, you are correct.

Remember, a libero is a back-row defensive specialist who focuses on passing and digging. They can’t attack the ball above the net or play on the front row – but can substitute in and out freely for back-row players without counting against official substitution limits.

Previous 2026-27 editions

Sept. 1: Soccer Foul After Shot on Goal - Listen
Aug. 25: 
Fumble Out of Bounds - Listen