Country Day, Mount Carmel among five state volleyball champions crowned Saturday

KENNER – On the third and final day at the 2018 LHSAA Allstate Sugar Bowl State Volleyball Championships, a day loaded with championship matches started early. With the first final in Division V at 9 a.m. and five team to be crowned state champions, it was a long day in the Ponchartrain Center.

The defending Division V champion Metairie Park Country Day Cajuns made it a repeat to start the morning, handling No. 2 Ascension Episcopal in straight sets (25-23, 29-27, 25-23).

The victorious Lady Cajuns were led by Alex Smith with 19 kills. Kaci Chairs added 13 kills, two Blocks and a pair of aces, and Kelsey Dinvaut had 10 kills. Mary Tebbe had 42 Assists. Kate Launey and Ashlyn Barwick chipped in 19 and 11 digs respectively as Country Day (41-5) battled through and took three highly-competitive sets.

The Lady Blue Gators were led Addie Vidrine with 15 kills and 3 blocks. Alaina Hardy had 15 digs, nine kills and two aces.

The Division IV final between top-seeded Archbishop Hannan and the third-seeded U-High Cubs was even more-one-sided as the Hawks soared in straight sets (25-10, 25-9, 25-13).

Allee Morris led Hannan (40-6) with 18 kills and seven blocks. Grace Lagalante racked up 35 assists and four aces. Mia Migliore and Casey Aucoin had nine digs each, while Aucoin shined with five aces.

The Lady Cubs were led by Maggie Segar with 10 assists. Collen Temple had five kills and a couple of blocks.

The Division III final featured two teams from the same district as defending champion Vandebilt Catholic took on their fiercest rival, No. 3 seed E.D. White. The top-seeded Lady Terriers won an entertaining four set match (25-19, 25-27, 25-12, 25-19).

Brittany Theriot ended up with 18 kills to lead Vandebilt (38-9) while Angelle Buquet piled up 45 assists. Lauren Fitch had six blocks.

“Our players knew what to do down the stretch and rebounded from the setback in set 2 and our senior leadership helped the younger players and will be prepared to make a run next year,” said Vandebilt Catholic Coach Greg Castillo.

The Lady Cardinals were led by Mary Grace Chiasson with 35 assists and Lila Bordis with 26 kills and 14 digs.

“Our service game and errors hurt and our team fought hard through the match,” E.D. White Catholic head coach Sarah Johnson said. “Vandebilt is a smart team. They were here last year and they knew how to beat us but we fought hard.” The Cardinals finished the season 28-12.

No. 1 Teurlings Catholic faced No. 2 Cabrini in Division II, and once again seeding held in the finals. The Lady Rebels defeated the Crescents in four sets (25-17, 25-21, 26-24, 25-21).

The Lady Rebels were led by Ariana Hebert with 27 assists, 14 digs, three blocks and two aces. Jolie Hidalgo had 16 assists and 15 kills for Teurlings (46-5).

“This is our sixth title in a row and second in Division II,” Teurlings Catholic head coach Terry Hebert said. “Cabrini is a heck of a team and they came ready to play.”

The Crescents were led by Jen Brue with 36 assists and Kai Williams with 26 digs plus 21 kills. Jaylin St Martin chipped in 21 digs and a block.

“I’m proud of the team in how they came back to win the third set,” Cabrini Coach Kasey Dennies said. “Heart was the theme for the team this year and it showed tonight.”

Cabrini (31-10) made its third finals appearance in the past four years.

The final State Championship decided on Saturday was the Division I final between two district rivals. As they have been all season, top seed Mount Carmel Academy dominated.

The Cubs had downed the Chapelle Chipmunks three times during the season, and tonight would be no different as Mount Carmel rolled in straight sets (25-12, 25-9, 25-15) to take the state championship for the fifth straight year.

Mount Carmel (42-2) was led by Tori Frught with 40 assists, Ellie Holzman with 22 kills to match her jersey number, and Sofia Conaway with 19 digs.

Mount Carmel Coach April Hagadone enjoyed how her favored team handled the pressure all season long.

“This is our fifth title in row and we knew we would have a bulls-eye on our backs,” Hagadone said. “We accomplished our mission for the year.”

Beating a team four times in one season is always a challenge, but the Cubs didn’t blink.

“Playing our district rival we knew we would have a great game with a great crowd we knew each other, and we had a game plan,” Hagadone explained. “The team tonight contributed as a whole as we took the sets one point at a time and we looking for our returners to help get us back here next year.”

Playing in its first state title match in 13 years, Chapelle (34-11) was led by Rebecca Lacour with 17 assists and Meagan Scuderi with 16 digs.

Chapelle coach Anne Marie Stelly was disappointed but happy with the way her team competed.

“I’m more happy with the team as they fought and never gave up,” Stelly said. “The girls left it on the court and i’m pleased with our effort and proud of our team.”