St. Clair Shores

Lake Shore volleyball team looks to sustain early season success

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Deb Jacques St. Clair Shores Lake Shore volleyball players Carly Vargo, left, Sydney Morgan, Kim Hardy and Danielle Garcia are a part of a group that has started the season 3-0. The Shorians hope that success continues after two down years in the MAC Gold. Photo by Deb Jacques St. Clair Shores Lake Shore volleyball players Carly Vargo, left, Sydney Morgan, Kim Hardy and Danielle Garcia are a part of a group that has started the season 3-0. The Shorians hope that success continues after two down years in the MAC Gold.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — After a couple of down years, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore volleyball coach Margaret Kwapicz believes this year’s team has the right recipe to have a memorable season.

“We have a lot of experience. We’ve got three or four seniors who’ve been with the team since their sophomore year,” said Kwapicz, in her 13th year with the Shorians. “Add to that the talent we have, and I think we can have a solid year.”

Lake Shore, 3-0 at press time, has had a strong start to the season after two down years in the Macomb Area Conference Gold Division. The Shorians moved into the Gold after winning the Silver in 2009.

The Shorians went 4-13-1 and 7-16 in 2010 and 2011, respectively, in the Gold.

“Wins and losses are important, but you stay with it for your teammates,” said senior defensive specialist Carlie Craven, a three-year member of the Lake Shore volleyball team.

“Naturally, you want to win, and that is one of our main goals, but building the relationships we have and learning so much like we have is just as important.”

Personnel will be key to Lake Shore continuing its early success, according to Kwapicz. She said she has two solid setters — seniors Danielle Garcia and Rachel Gierman — who will both see plenty of playing time.

Kwapicz also touted Craven, senior middle hitter Sydney Morgan and sophomore outside hitter Carly Vargo.

“I think with the height we have we can keep up what we’ve started this year,” said Craven of a team that has six players listed at 5 feet 8 inches or taller. “We can have they type of year we’ve always wanted.”

Morgan, who also plays kicker for the Shorians’ football team, said her ideal senior season would consist of a deep playoff run. She added that this is the best team she’s been around in her time the volleyball program.

“One of our goals is to win our division,” Kwapicz said. “We know (Macomb L’Anse Creuse North) and St. Clair will be tough, and we have a new rivalry with Roseville, so we have some tests ahead.”

Kwapicz has one more goal: winning the fifth annual War in the Shores, a series of matchups with St. Clair Shores South Lake and Lakeview.

“We’ve won it all four years, so we want to keep that going,” she said. “That’s our trophy, so we want to keep it.”

The Shorians next hit the court for a matchup with Clawson High, set for 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at Clawson.
 

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jason Carmel Davis at jdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1107. Follow Jason Carmel on Twitter.