MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 16, 1998

KENNER – Reserve Christian, playing in its first Louisiana High School Athletic Association Division V state volleyball tournament, hung tough with Central Catholic (Morgan City) through the first game before falling, 15-9, 15-1, Thursday morning at the Pontchartrain Center.

Reserve Christian, the District 7-V champions, finished its first season in the LHSAA with a 14-4 record. Central Catholic, the District 1-I runners-up, advanced to play Lutheran in the regionals Friday morning.

Reserve Christian had won four straight state championships in the Louisiana Christian Schools Athletic Association but said the noise level and arena was much bigger than those championships were played in. Andunlike the LCSAA, the Lady Eagles had not played their playoff opponent in the regular season.

Reserve Christian overcame some early jitters, however, to jump out to an early lead. Aces by Hailey Hammond and Angie Tucker, a kill by BrookeDelaneuville and three Central Catholic errors gave Reserve Christian a 6- 4 advantage.

Central Catholic, which earlier had aces from Jennifer Streva and Michelle Goessl, regained the lead at 8-6 on two kills by Goessl. After two errorsby Central Catholic allowed Reserve Christian to tie the score, Central went ahead to stay on an ace by Aimee Bravs and a Reserve Christian error. Three more errors and a kill by Sherry Arcemont gave CentralCatholic the first game.

Central Catholic carried that momentum into the second game and dominated from start to finish. A block by Goessl and four ReserveChristian errors built a 4-0 lead.

After an error by Central Catholic cut the deficit to three, Central Catholic went on a 11-0 run to end the match. Ten of those points camewith Streva serving on three kills by Goessl, an ace by Streva, a spike by Arcemont and four Reserve Christian errors. Goessl ended the match witha spike that bounced off the net and fell in.

Goessl finished with eight kills and two blocks. Karen Brown contributedeight assists and eight digs while Braus added three aces.

Ashley Holmes led Reserve Christian with five kills and six blocks. Tuckerand Delaneuville each had six digs while Tucker added five assists.

“The bottom line was nervousness,” Reserve Christian coach Mike Marix said. “Central Catholic is a great team and played practically flawless. Itold the girls that the other 15 teams were going to play flawless and that we would have to too. We didn’t do that but we didn’t hold anythingback in heart and intensity. We never quit.”Marix said the transition to the LHSAA went better than he expected.

“We are the first volleyball team in Reserve Christian history to make the LHSAA tournament,” Marix said. “We were one of the top 16 teams in thestate. We need to understand that and be proud of it.”

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