Lady Cardinals fall to Notre Dame in finals

E.D. White found itself in familiar territory – the Louisiana Division III Girls’ Volleyball Championship – at the Pontchartrain Center.

But unfortunately for the Lady Cardinals, they walked off the court following a familiar outcome against Notre Dame-Crowley on Saturday.

E.D. White ran into a relentless defense and a deceptive Lady Pioneers’ hitting attack in a 25-22, 25-11, 25-19 loss – the program’s fifth in the past five state finals.

Kelsey Brown led the Lady Pioneers with 33 digs.

“It was pretty frustrating,” said E.D. White junior Kathryn Stock. “We’re not used to getting dug every single time we hit the ball.”

Notre Dame senior Rosemary Cook balanced Notre Dame’s defense with offensive trickery at the net. Voted the Division III Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, Cook finished with 23 kills and two blocks in the finals.

She confused the Lady Cardinals on numerous occasions, switching from Howitzer-hard kills to soft dinks toward open floor space.

“I know she (Cook) hits the ball hard, but she was very smart in placing the ball,” Stock added. “She kept hitting to our setter.”

E.D. White trailed 20-13 in Game Two, but rallied for seven straight points to tie it up. Notre Dame (35-8) suppressed the Lady Cardinals momentum, however, to preserve the win.

The Lady Cardinals led early in Game Two, but a 12-0 Notre Dame run put the score at 16-4. From that point, the Lady Pioneers cruised to a two-game advantage.

Both squads traded punches throughout most of the third game, but Notre Dame broke open a 17-17 tie with seven unanswered points that eventually led to its third win and first state volleyball title.

Stock led E.D. White (31-10) with four kills, eight blocks and two service aces.

Junior Hailey Silverii finished with five kills and two blocks, and Lindsay Constant had 13 digs.

Despite her program’s fifth consecutive championship defeat, E.D. White coach Mary Cavell was proud of her players’ effort – especially considering their youth.

“This is a young team that didn’t have any senior leadership with the exception of Rebecca Bayhi,” she said. “I’ve never just brought one senior to the finals before, so I think it’s a credit to this team. These girls are champions. They played with their hearts.”

Added Silverii “We’ll be back next year.”

€ In Division I action, top-seeded Mt. Carmel defeated Terrebonne (25-11, 25-17, 23-25, 25-18) and No. 6 St. Thomas More beat H.L. Bourgeois (25-22, 25-22, 25-16).

Vandebilt lost to Tuerlings Catholic (25-21, 25-15, 25-11) and St. Michael defeated Ellender Memorial (25-13, 25-18, 25-18) in Division II quarterfinal play.

Houma Christian lost its Division V match to Episcopal of Acadiana (25-16, 25-17, 25-13).