Volleyball: Academy of Our Lady beats Helen Cox stays unbeaten, Mandeville outlasts Fontainebleau

Area Prep Volleyball Report for Wednesday, Oct. 21

When discussions of Division II volleyball take place, they typically start and end with the Lafayette area powers Teurlings Catholic and St. Thomas More.

In a showdown Tuesday, the Rebels went to St. Thomas More and defeated the Cougars in straight sets, 25-17, 25-18, 25-21, in a rematch of last year’s semifinal.

Teurlings Catholic defeated Ben Franklin in the title match to win the D2 final, but the Falcons are quite good again. Franklin is fourth in this year’s current Division II power ratings behind St. Thomas More and Teurlings.

There is one team very much of note separating the Lafayette powers and Ben Franklin in the ratings.

Academy of Our Lady continued its brilliant season Tuesday, downing Helen Cox 25-20, 25-16, 25-19 to remain unbeaten.

Kacey Lyon led the way with 15 kills, Essence Wren had 15 assists and Emily Eschette had eight digs.

The Penguins (21-0) have just three matches remaining in the regular season, beginning with Karr at home Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The Cougars (11-6), will host Belle Chasse Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Ben Franklin rallied from a set down to defeat Baton Rouge High in four sets 16-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-22.

In the battle of Mandeville, the home team Skippers found the opposition much stiffer in a rematch with District 5-I rival Fontainebleau.

Earlier this season, Mandeville downed the Bulldogs in straight sets at Fontainebleau.

This time around, it went five close, grueling sets before the Skippers prevailed 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13.

Senior Taylor Pierce led Mandeville with 25 kills and 30 digs and two assists, senior Gabby Oos had 16 kills, eight digs and three blocks, and senior Kassady Kirlin finished with 11 kills and two aces and a block. Senior Ashlynn Anderson had 50 assists.

Mandeville (14-2, 9-1), ranked fourth in the new Division I power ratings, will host six-time defending state champion Mount Carmel Academy in a showdown today at 5:30 p.m. while Fontainebleau (10-10, 4-3), 12th in the Division I power ratings, will host Ponchatoula Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The Cubs are second in the Division I power ratings.

Area Prep Volleyball Results from Tuesday, Oct. 20

Academy of Our Lady over Helen Cox 25-20, 25-16, 25-19

Belle Chasse over Landry 25-14, 25-22, 25-14

Ben Franklin over Baton Rouge 16-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-22

Fisher over Morris Jeff Community 25-23, 25-23, 25-20

H.L. Bourgeois over Hahnville 25-20, 25-21, 25-10

Lakeshore over Salmen 25-12, 25-11, 25-14

Mandeville over Fontainebleau 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13

Newman over Chalmette in four sets

Northshore over Country Day 17-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, 15-10

Pearl River over Loranger 25-11, 25-18, 25-14

Pope John Paul II over Sacred Heart (NO) 25-21, 25-12, 21-25, 28-30, 15-8

Riverside Academy over Ecole Classique 25-15, 25-16, 25-16

Slidell over Ponchatoula 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 25-13

Ursuline Academy over Douglass 25-7, 25-12, 25-10

Area Prep Volleyball Schedule for Wednesday, Oct. 21

Archbishop Chapelle at Dominican, 5:30 p.m.

Archbishop Hannan at De La Salle, 5:30 p.m.

Carver at East Jefferson, 4:30 p.m.

Christ Episcopal at St. Scholastica, 4:30 p.m.

Cohen at Newman, 4:30 p.m.

Covington at Hammond, 4:30 p.m.

Destrehan at Thibodaux, 4 p.m.

E.D. White Catholic at Cabrini, 5:30 p.m.

Higgins at M.L. King Charter, 4:30 p.m.

Independence at Pope John Paul II, 4:30 p.m.

Karr at Livingston Collegiate, 4:30 p.m.

Kenner Discovery at Sarah Reed, 5:30 p.m.

McMain at Ben Franklin, 5 p.m.

Mount Carmel Academy at Mandeville, 5:30 p.m.

Riverdale at Warren Easton, 4:30 p.m.

Riverside Academy at Northlake Christian, 4:30 p.m.

Salmen at Franklinton, 4:30 p.m.

St. Katharine Drexel at St. Mary’s Academy, 4:30 p.m.

Ursuline Academy at Belle Chasse, 5:30 p.m

West Jefferson at Bonnabel, 4:30 p.m.

West St. John at East Iberville, 4:30 p.m.