Eight archdiocesan schools make volleyball playoffs

By Ron Brocato
Clarion Herald

Eight teams representing schools in the Archdiocese of New Orleans will gather at the Cajundome in Lafayette to vie for one of four state volleyball championships.

Two are favored to achieve that goal as No. 1 seeds. The tournament will run from Nov. 9-11.

The best of the best are three-time Division I champion Dominican, in search of a four-peat, and Archbishop Hannan, a 2022 Division III semifinalist, looking to return home with a third title trophy.

The two favorites showed their mettle against each other during the season when Dominican (40-2) lost one of its two matches to Hannan (38-2) before handing the Hawks their only two setbacks of the season.

The local Catholic school contingent in the state tournament includes former champions Mount Carmel (2020), Academy of the Sacred Heart (2020) and Pope John Paul II (2019).

The match-ups for the opening round on Nov. 9:

Division I – No. 1. Dominican (40-2) vs. No. 9 Fontainebleau (24-15), 8 p.m., Court 1.

Dominican takes an 18-match win streak that has been bolstered by the play of Camryn Chatellier, Gabby Marcello, Lauren Pepitone, Zoie Mitchell and Noelie Haddad.

Division I – No. 2 Mount Carmel (28-7) vs. No. 7 Ruston (28-12), 8 p.m., Court 3.

The Cubs have survived the more difficult schedule of the two, behind the play of senior Brooke Darrah, juniors Julia Savois and Emma Caracci and senior record-breaker Nola Sevin, holder of 2,000 digs.

Division I – No. 11 Archbishop Chapelle (22-18) vs. No. 3 Dutchtown (34-8), 8 p.m., Court 2.

Since Ashley Blink took over the Chipmunks program, they have made steady strides. A former MVP in her playing days at Sacred Heart, Blink (formerly Ruckert) has put together a team of capable athletes, including Haley Bellande, Ava Kirsch and Isabella McCann.

The matches of Dominican, Mt. Carmel and Chapelle will be played side-by-side to end the first day of competition.

Division II – No. 4 St. Scholastica (24-13) vs. No. 13 Lakeshore (16-15), 2:30 p.m., Court 2.

A high seed for Coach Lisa Cardinale’s Doves, who are bolstered by senior Lauren Gazeley and junior Julia Whitfield.

Division II – No. 6 Academy of Our Lady (27-9) vs. No.3 Teurlings Catholic (28-12), 6:10 p.m., Court 1.

The Penguins of coach Don Smith defeated South Terrebonne and West Ouachita to advance to the tournament for the third consecutive year. But they drew a high seed as their opening opponent. Look for Lillian Daviss to lead a capable contingent that includes Jaci Camardelle, Rihanna Franklin and Adelynn Creath against a powerful Rebel squad.

Division III – No. 1 Archbishop Hannan (38-2) vs. No. 8 Haynes Academy (28-11), 12:40 p.m., Court 3.

After winning the state championship in 2021, Coach Bekka Bonnaffee’s team had to settle for a spot in the semis while Dunham defeated E.D. White for the gold trophy. White is back as the No. 2 seed, and the Hawks are eying a return engagement with the team that sent them home early in this year’s finals.

Division IV – No, 6 Pope John Paul II (23-8) vs. No. 3 Northlake Christian (32-7), 9 a.m., Court 3.

Both schools are district rivals who split their matches. The Lady Jaguars won in three sets on Oct. 12 at Northlake, but lost the final match of the season in five grueling sets.

Division IV – No. 7 Academy of the Sacred Heart (27-14) vs. No. 2 John Curtis (32-8), 10:50 a.m., Court 1.

In their only match of the season against each other, Curtis won their district encounter in three sets. Sacred Heart last won the state division title in 2021.

 

Nola Sevin received the gold shovel from Head Coach Taylor Ricaud after recording her 2,000th dig during the 2023 Mount Carmel volleyball season. She joins a contingent of talented athletes who will represent eight local Catholic schools in the state volleyball tournament in Lafayette, Nov. 9-11. Photo courtesy MCA.