Grace Cairo Leads L'Anse Creuse to Easy Win Over Lake Shore
The Lancers defeated the Shorians in three straight sets to improve their record to 16-9-1 before facing Dakota in the district semifinals.
By Mariam Saleh ·
Grace Cairo’s high energy on the volleyball court defined Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse’s season. That intensity translated into a decisive 25-14, 25-9, and 25-14 victory over St. Clair Shores Lake Shore on Monday at Macomb Dakota. The win secured a place for the Lancers in the Division 1 pre-district bracket.
L’Anse Creuse (16-9-1) dominated the match from the first serve. The team built a 10-2 lead in the opening set and never trailed. In the second set, the Lancers extended a small early advantage into a 19-7 lead. The third set saw L’Anse Creuse establish a 7-0 lead that grew to 14-6. Lake Shore (6-14-1) attempted a rally to cut the deficit to 14-9, but the Lancers closed the match with an 11-5 run in under an hour.
Cairo, the team’s setter, recorded 13 assists and two aces. Her performance brings her career total close to 1,000 assists. On the offensive front, Megan Godin and Sophie Newcomb each recorded eight kills, while Gabbie Voracek contributed seven. Libero Lauren Bellisario anchored the back row defense for the Lancers.
Coach Megan Haas attributed the team’s success to its collective energy. Haas stated that the team performs best when it plays with high intensity. She noted that Cairo serves as the primary leader in this regard. Haas also mentioned that the teams faced each other the previous week, but L’Anse Creuse played better in this encounter.
Lake Shore finished the game with only 29 total points across three sets. No player on the Shorians recorded more than three kills. Madison Hayward led the team with two aces, and Izzy Bennett added two service points.
The Lancers will next face host Macomb Dakota in the district semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Cairo recalled that Dakota swept L’Anse Creuse in the district opener last year. She expressed hope that her team can improve their performance in this rematch.
Fraser and Macomb L’Anse Creuse North will play the first semifinal match at 5 p.m. on the same day. The Lancers’ current record stands at 16 wins, 9 losses, and 1 tie.
