Country Day and Newman are tied for the most LHSAA volleyball state championships with 18 apiece, and both will try for another title Saturday.
The two New Orleans area schools swept their semifinal matches Friday at the Cajundome in Lafayette as top-seeded Country Day advanced to the state finals for the 17th consecutive season.
The Cajuns have won nine titles in a row — and 15 in the past 16 seasons — and will face No. 6 Central Catholic of Morgan City, a five-set winner against No. 2 Westminster Christian, in the Division V state final set for 9 a.m. Saturday.
Second-seeded Newman returned to the finals for the first time since it won a title in 2022 and will face No. 1 Dunham in the Division IV match set for 11:30 a.m.
Joining Country Day and Newman among New Orleans teams in the state finals are No. 1 Dominican and No. 3 Slidell in Division I, and No. 2 St. Scholastica — a first-time state finalist — in Division II.
Fourth-set comeback
St. Scholastica avoided having to play a fifth set by scoring the final six points in a 21-25, 26-24, 25-14, 26-24 victory.
Down 24-20 in the fourth set, St. Scholastica did not let No. 3 Academy of Our Lady score another point as senior Thea Roppolo led in scoring with 12 kills and six blocks.
Senior Mia Casi, also with 12 kills, had four blocks. Sophomore Alex Liner had 13 kills in the win that advanced St. Scholastica to face four-time reigning state champion St. Thomas More, the No. 1 seed.
“This is the first time since I’ve been coaching that I’m on the other side (of the bracket) from St. Thomas More,” St. Scholastica coach Lisa Cardinale said. “It’s nice to finally meet them in the finals.”
Newman shows grit
Newman overcame a four-point deficit in the second set on the way to completing a sweep of two-time reigning state champion Northlake Christian, the No. 3 seed.
The Greenies faced a 12-8 deficit in the second set, went ahead for good at 19-18 and never trailed in the third set as junior LeiLani Reid led in scoring with 12 kills and three blocks in a 25-18, 25-20, 25-15 victory.
Other contributors included seniors Caroline Beahm (eight kills, one ace, 15 digs) and Jessica Lambert (21 digs, one ace).
“These are some gritty kids,” Newman coach Colleen Loerzel said. “Each one of my seniors has been through some major adversity in the last several years.”
Early adjustment
An early adjustment helped Country Day complete a sweep of No. 5 Ascension Catholic, as coach Julie Ibieta said her team had not seen many topspin serves this season, “so it was a little different rhythm on the ball. I thought we did a nice job with that.”
Sisters Jade and Leila Washington combined for 20 kills and 19 digs in the 25-18, 25-18, 25-17 victory. Layla Henderson had 10 kills and two blocks. Lucy Loomis had 33 assists.
Fight to the end
Haynes did not go down easily in defense of its Division III state title when it lost in four sets to No. 1 St. Michael as senior Marilyn Voitier led in scoring with 33 kills and three aces.
“We were right there in the end, which is where we wanted to be,” Haynes coach Ashley Miller said. “We were put in a situation where we could have just closed out and didn’t go our way. I’m so proud of this team and I’m proud of how we fought to the very end.”
Chapelle (Division I), Hannan (Division III) and John Curtis (Division IV) also dropped semifinal matches Friday.