Cajundome set to host state volleyball championships starting Thursday

[contentcards url=”https://crescentcitysports.com/lhsaa-release-state-playoff-volleyball-brackets/” target=”_blank”]

The venue is dramatically different but the song remains the same in the LHSAA state volleyball tournament which opens Thursday.

With damage to the Pontchartrain Center from Hurricane Ida, the tournament was moved to Lafayette to the Cajundome with New Orleans and Lafayette area teams poised to dominate, once again.

The New Orleans area has three top seeds while the Acadiana area has the other two top seeds.

All five defending state champions are alive in their quest to repeat in 2021.

Defending Division I state champion Dominican (43-2) is the top seed and favorite to repeat in Division I. Dominican may be the best overall team in Louisiana.

Dominican downed St. Joseph’s Academy in four sets in the 2020 state championship match at the Pontchartrain Center after the Redstickers had dismissed 6-time defending champion Mount Carmel Academy in four sets in the semifinals.

Dominican will take on No. 9 Fontainebleau Thursday at 12:40 p.m. while the Redstickers meet No. 10 Archbishop Chapelle (24-6) at 2:30 p.m.

Dominican defeated the Redstickers three of four times this season St. Joseph’s swept three matches with Mount Carmel. Dominican swept four matches from the Cubs.

St. Joseph’s Academy (31-5) was the last team other than Mount Carmel or Dominican to win a Division I title, accomplishing the feat in 2013. The Cubs (28-10) are seeded third and will meet No. 6 Terrebonne Thursday at 12:40 p.m.

In Division II, 4-time defending champion Teurlings Catholic (29-11) is the second seed and will meet No. 10 Riverdale at 6:10 p.m. The Rebels downed rival St. Thomas More in four sets in the title match in Kenner in 2020.

The Cougars (35-3) are the top seed and were the last team to win a Division II championship, aside from Teurlings Catholic, doing so in 2016. STM will square off with No. 8 St. Scholastica Thursday at 6:10 p.m.

St. Thomas More outlasted Teurlings Catholic in a 5-set thriller on Oct. 19.

No. 3 Ben Franklin (31-5) takes on another New Orleans area stalwart in No. 6 Academy of Our Lady (27-5) at 2:30 p.m.

No. 5 Belle Chasse (28-7) is ready for its quarterfinal matchup with No. 4 Assumption (30-11) at 9 a.m. The Mustangs defeated the Cardinals in a tournament match on Oct. 22.

In Division III, top seed Archbishop Hannan (34-6) is the defending champion. The Hawks will face No. 9 Morgan City (19-18) at 10:50 a.m. The Hawks defeated the Tigers in straight sets in a tournament match on Oct. 29.

E.D. White (21-13) is the second seed and meets No. 7 Iowa (19-18) at 4:20 p.m.

No. 3 Lutcher (24-7) is set to meet No. 11 Haynes Academy (16-12) at 9 a.m.

In Division IV, Academy of The Sacred Heart of New Orleans (22-9) is the defending champion. The Cardinals are seeded eighth and will battle top-seeded Ascension Episcopal (30-8) at 8 p.m.

Notre Dame (29-9) is the second seed and the Pioneers meet Episcopal (24-6) at 4:20 p.m. Notre Dame swept Ascension Episcopal in a pair of matches in the regular season.

Newman (26-5) is the fourth seed and the Greenies take on No. 5 Lafayette Christian at 10:50 a.m.

In Division V, 5-time defending champion Country Day (28-7) is the top seed and the solid favorite. The Cajuns face No. 8 Highland Baptist (21-21) at 8 p.m.

No. 2 Westminster Christian (26-13) battles No. 10 Northlake Christian (18-8) at 12:40 p.m.

No. 5 McGehee (25-5), the last school to win a Division V title other than Country Day (2015) takes on No. 4 Calvary Baptist (34-5) at 2:30 p.m.

LHSAA State Volleyball Tournament Schedule

Thursday, Nov. 11

Division I
No. 1 Dominican vs. No. 9 Fontainebleau, 12:40 p.m. Court 1
No. 4 Dutchtown vs. No. 5 Southside, 10:50 a.m. Court 1
No. 3 Mount Carmel Academy vs. No. 6 Terrebonne, 12:40 p.m. Court 3
No. 2 St. Joseph’s Academy vs. #10 Archbishop Chapelle, 2.30 p.m. Court 3

Division II
No. 1 St. Thomas More vs. No. 8 St. Scholastica, 6:10 p.m. Court 1
No. 4 Assumption vs. No. 5 Belle Chasse, 9 a.m. Court 3
No. 3 Ben Franklin vs. No. 6 Academy of Our Lady, 2:30 p.m. Court 2
No. 2 Teurlings Catholic vs. No. 10 Riverdale, 6:10 p.m. Court 3

Division III
No. 1 Archbishop Hannan vs. No. 9 Morgan City, 10:50 a.m. Court 2
No. 4 St. Michael vs. No. 5 Iota, 8 p.m. Court 2
No. 3 Lutcher vs. No. 11 Haynes Academy, 9 a.m. Court 1
No. 2 E.D. White Catholic vs. No. 7 Iowa, 4:20 p.m. Court 2

Division IV
No. 1 Ascension Episcopal vs. No. 8 Academy of Sacred Heart (NO), 8 p.m. Court 3
No. 4 Newman vs. No. 5 Lafayette Christian, 10:50 a.m. Court 3
No. 3 Dunham vs. No. 6 Catholic (NI), 4:20 p.m. Court 3
No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Ascension Episcopal, 4:20 p.m. Court 1

Division V
No. 1 Country Day vs. No. 8 Highland Baptist, 8 p.m. Court 1
No. 4 Calvary Baptist vs. No. 5 McGehee, 2:30 p.m. Court 1
No. 3 Episcopal of Acadiana vs. No. 6 Central Catholic, 6:10 p.m. Court 2
No. 2 Westminster Christian vs. No. 10 Northlake Christian, 12:40 p.m. Court 2