Woodlawn ends playoff run in straight games

BY KEVIN CHIRI

Publisher

KENNER – It was hard to tell who was more stunned on Thursday afternoon, the East St. John Lady Wildcat players, or head coach Sandi Stein.

“I never dreamed we would lose in three straight,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “We just beat them in three straight games a week ago, so I’m having trouble believing this happened.”

East St. John met Woodlawn in the opening game of the Division I state volleyball tournament here at the Pontchartrain Center on Thursday.

It was the same team the Lady Wildcats, the district 7-5A champs, had beaten handily last week in a non-district tuneup for the playoffs.

But on this day it was a different story as Woodlawn quickly ended the state title hopes for East St. John with a straight set, 25-22, 25-22, 25-20 victory.

“We had the kids as prepared as they could be, we told them what they had to do. But it came down to a day when we didn’t pass the ball well, and when that happens, you won’t win,” Stein said. “Woodlawn brought their top game, give them credit, but we just didn’t play as well as I know we could. It was disappointing.”

Still, the East St. John girls made the school record books by going further than any volleyball team in history had gone. Finishing the season with a sparkling 24-8 overall record, the club won the district championship, then downed Higgins in their bi-district playoff opener a week ago to qualify for the elite state event.

“The atmosphere is really so loud and it can be intimidating. That’s why we had played loud music at practice just on Wednesday,” Stein said. “But when we walked in today, I could feel the nerves change a little with the girls. I just don’t think we handled the pressure of this situation as well as we could have.”

The Wildcats were right in every game to the end, but never could pull things out to win.

In game one, they were tied at 10-10 before Woodlawn went on a 13-6 scoring edge that got them the lead. Even though the Cats had a run of their own from there, outscoring the Panthers 6-1, they still couldn’t get closer than the 25-22 final score.

Game two looked like East St. John was ready to break through. They jumped to the early lead, then had a 7-1 scoring run that sent them in front 14-9. But that’s when Woodlawn’s Laranda Spann got hot with seven straight service points.

The Panthers took a 17-14 lead and never gave up the upper hand until the end, even though East St. John got within two at 24-22.

In game three, the Wildcats were again tough from start to finish, but couldn’t put things away. Woodlawn always managed to stay even until late in the game when they outscored ESJ 11-6 to break away from a 14-14 tie.

Topping the Wildcats statistically was Kierra Joseph with a great all-around game, getting 15 digs, seven kills and an ace.

Maira harris led the team with 12 assists, while Darielle Sanders was tops in digs with 17.

Ashlee Cooper had eight kills for the team lead in that category and added five blocks. Avingnon Williams had four blocks to chip in.