L’Anse Creuse volleyball season ends in state quarterfinals By Jon Malavolti C & G Sports Writer GROSSE POINTE — Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse’s volleyball team’s impressive postseason run came to an end Nov. 18, as the Lancers fell in four games to Grosse Pointe North in a Class A state quarterfinal. While Lancers coach Melissa Chase said the team was upset about losing, the girls had plenty of reasons to hold their heads high — especially after they originally set out this season wanting simply to be competitive after finishing in last place in the Macomb Area Conference Red Division last season. “I was just telling them to think back to the start of the season — we finished under .500 in our first few tournaments,” Chase said. “I think they even amazed themselves with how far they came in the season and how much they accomplished.” L’Anse Creuse closed out the regular season in the MAC Red strongly, finishing tied for fourth place in the competitive division, just two games behind champion Marysville High. The Lancers then proceeded to rack up big wins over talented such opponents as Fair Haven Anchor Bay, Fraser High and Sterling Heights High in the playoffs, eventually winning district and regional titles. And the Lancers’ run of success shouldn’t end with this season, as a fairly young group of players make up the core of the squad, including juniors Jessica DeLeeuw, Carlay Stahl, Torre Palermino and Allie Cusmano, sophomore Kelsey Castiglioni and freshman Siobhan Findlay. “I think that next year’s team will benefit a ton from playing with this kind of pressure and at this kind of high level,” Chase said. But first the Lancers will need to replace the contributions and leadership made by seniors Elizabeth Boschma, Kari Burgeson, Lauren Kushner and Ashley Spiruda. “They are people who came to practice every day with that mentality of ‘This could be it,’” Chase said, referring to the seniors. “In fact, the last few weeks at practice, the seniors have said, ‘I’m not ready to be done. Help me out guys. I don’t want this to be my last practice.’” “So I think that passion and determination trickled down to the rest of the team.” More than anything, Chase said the quarterfinal loss should serve as inspiration for the returning players, noting how hard the team worked to rebound after being knocked out of the playoffs last year in the district final. “They remembered districts, and I’m sure they won’t forget this loss quickly,” Chase said. You can reach Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1040.
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