C-D title goes to Our Lady with win over Sacred Heart

Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes claimed the 2012 Detroit Catholic League C-D championship with a three-game victory over Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart on Monday, Oct. 22.

The Lakers took the first game, 25-19, before dominating the second game, 25-9, and then pulling out a 25-23 win in a tenacious third game.

“We started off a bit nervous and tentative, but once we won game No. 1, we picked up momentum. In game No. 2, we had some tremendous serves to keep Sacred Heart out of system,” Our Lady Head Coach Stephanie Swearingen said. “Then, in game No. 3, we were down due to some defensive errors. The score was 20-23, we took a quick time out, refocused, sided out, and then my senior captain, Haley Howell, served out the final four points to win.

“The final rally ended with a nice block by my middle Devon Valent. It was important for the girls to finish in three (games) and not allow Sacred Heart to gain any momentum.”

Howell finished with 32 assists, five aces, four kills, four digs and a block for Our Lady, while Allison Samulon had 10 kills, three aces and four blocks.

Courtney Wightman had nine kills, eight digs, two aces and a block, while Valent had seven kills, three blocks and two aces.

The Lakers finished the regular season with a 33-6-4 record and will play against Macomb Christian in a Michigan High School Athletic Association Class D district semi-final tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 1 at Clarkston Everest Collegiate.

The winner will face either Everest or Bloomfield Hills Roeper in a Class D district final at Everest on Saturday, Nov. 3.