Junior " To-To" Pellegrin
November 10, 2006
Quilts auction to benefit local groups
November 15, 2006
When the first serve took place at the Pontchartrain Center, for the state championship games, last Saturday, two area teams had an opportunity to win the state title in their respective divisions.
The E.D. White Lady Cardinals entered the day with their fourth-consecutive trip to the state championship match. The previous three years, they finished as runner up. This year would be no different, as they lost to St. Louis 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-11, 25-20).
For Morgan City, it was the squad’s first trip to the state championship game since 1987—a year that many of the girls on the team were not yet born. The Lady Tigers faced Academy of the Sacred Heart, a team that has reached the finals in 16 of the last 17 years, and were defeated 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-12).
Despite the losses, both teams walked away proud of their accomplishments. The Lady Cardinals walked away solidified as one of the premier Division III volleyball programs in the state, while Morgan City’s five starting seniors ended the careers in as good a fashion as one could hope for.
E.D. White coach Mary Cavell said not many schools have been where E.D. White has been over the past seven seasons. “We’ve been blessed to do the last four years in a row, and five of the last seven years,” she said.
And with the youth on the Lady Cardinals’ squad, it not far-fetched to believe they are a program that will continue to consistently get back the state championship game in future years. “We lost six seniors off of last year’s squad,” said Cavell, “plus another starter. And for this group to come in with three sophomores and two freshmen, intertwined with three seniors, it’s just a wonderful job.
“I’m really pleased with where we came this season with quite a few youngsters,” she added.
Throughout the state tournament, Cavell was quick to point out the contributions and leadership of senior Maria Thomassie. “She’s been a wonderful leader for us, on and off the court,” said Cavell.
At the Pontchartrain Center, the road to the finals saw E.D. White persevere through two tough contests, defeating Teurlings 3-1 (25-9, 25-13, 23-25, 26-24) and Catholic of New Iberia 3-2 (25-11, 25-19, 24-26, 25-12, 15-11).
“I’ve left off this court sometimes, saying, you know, we didn’t play our best ball,” said Cavell after her team’s loss to St. Louis. “I can’t say leaving today, they didn’t give it everything they had. In life, that’s all you can do. Is get out there and give it your best shot.”
For Morgan City, the state championship appearance surprised a lot of people, but the seniors on the squad said they realized they could do something special at a volleyball camp they attended over the summer in Florida. “We learned we were good,” said Sharlene Ruffin. “We learned we had chemistry. And chemistry brought us far.”
It was that chemistry that helped No.10 seed Morgan City record upsets over No. 7 seed Northside 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-21) and No. 6 seed Ben Franklin 3-2 (17-25, 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 15-6), on its way to the finals. Sandwiched between those wins was 3-1 win over Chalmette (22-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-16).
And despite the loss to Sacred Heart in the finals, Morgan City’s seniors showed no regrets about their performances. When asked if they were disappointed with the outcome, Ruffin said, “No. We’ve never made it this far, so it doesn’t matter. We’re state-runner up.”
Asked if losing left the team with a sour taste, senior Claire Beadle responded, “It’s not sour. It’s still exciting.”
Head coach Christy Theriot said she was proud to have coached the seniors through a career that culminated in the state finals. “They busted their butts,” she said. “They worked hard for four years. They have their four district championships. They worked hard every practice, every game, and they leave it all out on the floor.”
And that was the team’s expectations in their game against state powerhouse Sacred Heart—to leave it all out on the floor. “Just to play our best and come what may,” Theriot explained. “It’s disappointing with the loss, but I don’t think they’ll go home and say we could have done this, or we could have done that. No. 1 for Sacred Heart brought it.”
“We brought it too,” chimed in one of the seniors on the Morgan City.
Throughout the season, both E.D. White and Morgan City “brought it” on the court.
And they were rewarded with finishes as one of the two of the top teams in the state.
Matt LeBlanc can be reached at (985) 876-3008 or matt@tri-parishtimes.com.
How they got there
E.D. White (6th seed):
Record: 25-15 overall, 8-0 district
District Finish: 1st
Bi-District Round: def. No. 11 West Feliciana 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-8)
Quarterfinal: def. No. 14 Teurlings 3-1 (25-9, 25-13, 23-25, 26-24)
Semi-Final: def. No. 7 Catholic (NI) 3-2 (25-11, 25-19, 24-26, 25-12, 15-11)
Final: lost to No. 1 St. Louis 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-11, 25-20)
Fact: E.D. White has reached the state championship in four consecutive seasons, and five of the last seven seasons.
Morgan City (10th seed):
Record: 25-13 overall, 8-0 district
District Finish: 1st
Bi-District Round: def. No. 23 Breaux Bridge 3-0 (25-7, 25-15, 25-9)
Regionall: def. No. 7 Northside 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-21)
Quarterfinal: def. No. 15 Chalmette 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-16)
Semi-Final: def. No. 6 Ben Franklin 3-2 (17-25, 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 15-6)
Final: lost to No. 1 Sacred Heart 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-12)
Fact: Morgan City last reached the state championship 19 years ago (1987)
The No. 6 seed E.D. White Lady Cardinals finished as Division II state-runner up for the fourth-consecutive year, this weekend at the State Volleyball Tournament. Pictured from left are: (standing) Coach Mary Cavell, Jodie Danos, Jessica Politz, Delany Morvant, Hailey Silverii, Caroline Becnel, Jeanne Robichaux, Kathryn Stock, Rebecca Bayhi and Lindsey Constant. (kneeling) Mary Catherine Ayo, Courtney Rodrigue, Laura Kuylen, Maria Thomassie and Morgan Henning. Staff photo by Matt LeBlanc.
