Lancers secure district semifinal berth

L’Anse Creuse high school volleyball players recorded 21 kills in the final two sets to defeat St. Clair Shores Lake Shore 25-14, 25-9, and 25-14 on Monday at Macomb Dakota. The victory advanced the Lancers to the district semifinals, where they will host Macomb Dakota on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The Lancers, who improved their season record to 16-9-1, controlled the pace of the match from the opening serve. They established a 10-2 lead in the first set and never trailed. In the second set, an early 7-4 advantage grew into a 19-7 margin, culminating in a six-point run to close the game. The third set followed a similar pattern, with the Lancers building a 14-6 lead before Lake Shore briefly rallied to within five points at 14-9. L’Anse Creuse answered with an 11-5 run to finish the match in under one hour.

Grace Cairo, the veteran setter, led the offense with 13 assists and two aces. Her performance brings her career total close to 1,000 assists. On the attack side, Megan Godin and Sophie Newcomb each recorded eight kills, while Gabbie Voracek added seven. Libero Lauren Bellisario anchored the defense along the back row.

Coach Megan Haas attributed the team’s success to sustained energy levels, a tactic she identifies as the program’s defining characteristic this season. "That been our thing all season. When we play with a lot of energy we usually do really well," Haas said. She noted that Cairo serves as the primary driver of that intensity. "Grace Cairo is kind of our leader. It starts with her and her energy," the coach added.

Cairo echoed the emphasis on intensity, stating that the team performs best when playing with high energy. "I always try to play with a lot of energy," Cairo said. "That’s the way I have always been. When we are clicking and playing with energy out there it’s when we play really good. That’s when we’re having fun."

Lake Shore ended its major rebuilding season with a 6-14-1 record. The Shorians managed only 29 total points across three sets, with no player recording more than three kills. Madison Hayward led the team with two aces, while Izzy Bennett contributed two service points. Haas noted that the Lancers faced Lake Shore the previous week and viewed Monday’s performance as a marked improvement.

The Lancers now prepare for a rematch with Dakota, who defeated them in last year’s district opener. "Last year (Dakota) swept us (in the district opener) and we haven’t beaten them since I have been there," Cairo said. "We’re hoping we can play a lot better this time."