Country Day The New No.1 in Louisiana: VSN / GeauxPreps Volleyball Power 25 Poll – After Week 7

by: VSN Staff // GeauxPreps.com Partner

For a third consecutive week there is a different team sitting atop the VSN/GeauxPreps Power 25 Poll. 13 voters across the state picked Country Day as the new No.1 after a sensational 8-0 week.

The Cajuns knocked off the previous No.1 Hannan 3-1 on Wednesday and closed the week by going 5-0 winning the Ed Daniels Invitational on their home floor beating four Power 25s along the way. 

“We are coming off of a great week,” said Country Day coach Julie Ibieta. “I am so proud of my team and how they have worked so hard to become great leaders, teammates and they are relentless in their pursuit to be the best they can be.”

Country Day has now won 13 straight and after beating Slidell and Haynes in the previous weeks received seven of the possible 13 first-place votes and jumped three spots into the No.1 position.
St. Thomas Moreis a close No.2 after a 3-0 week. 

Hannan dropped two spots after the mid-week loss to Country Day.

Slidell is No.4 while Mt. Carmel, who dropped their home Pink Game to Dominican 3-1 on Wednesday and finished as the Runner-Up at the Ed Daniels Invitational remains at No.5.

1. Country Day (26-7 overall, 22-4 vs LA, 8-0 week)…Wins over ASH (3-0), St. Katharine Drexel (3-0), and a 3-1 win over No.1 Hannan (25-19, 25-17, 23-25, 25-20) to start the week…5-0 at Ed Daniels Invitational winning tournament championship…A pair of 2-0 wins Friday vs No.9 Vandebilt and No.20 CHNI…2-0 win vs Cabrini to start Saturday, then beat No. 10. John Curtis in the Semis and No.5 MCA in the finals…Cajuns now on a 13-game win streak

Top performers last week:

Lia Beverly -67 kills

Jade Washington -58 kills

Addison Launey – 89 digs

Marleigh White – 14 blocks

Maggie Schneider – 189 assists

2. STM (25-2, 24-2 vs LA, 3-0 week )…Three 3-0 wins vs Breau Bridge, Notre Dame (25-13, 25-8, 25-19), and Comeaux

3. Hannan (26-7 overall, 21-6 vs LA, 1-1 week)…Started the week by beating Bogalusa 3-0…Lost to No.4 Country Day 3-1 (19-25, 17-25, 25-23, 20-25) 

4. Slidell (31-2, 2-0 week)…Two 3-0 wins over Ponchatoula and Covington 

Coach’s Comments: “We are excited for this final push. We are finally starting to get a little healthier. Ava Labat has been doing a great job distributing the ball all season, but now we finally have Reagan Robinson back as a 6 rotation outside. We have always been much stronger with her and Demoni Lewis anchoring the pins for us. 

“Addie Dowell and Ava Barduca have really been growing as attackers. Each of them notched 20-plus kill games over the last few weeks while Cailyn Bergeron has focused her energy on becoming a great blocker. I am also very happy with the growth of our 3 libero/DS players E.K. Spilling, Justice Kingston, and Caylee McGovern. Rounding out the lineup Callie Exel has become a better defender and more of a 6-2 setting option when needed. We know we have to become more consistent to achieve our ultimate goal, but we are very happy to be in the mix at this point in the season.” Danny Tullis

5. Mt. Carmel (29-8 overall, 25-7 vs LA, 5-2 week)…Started week with a 3-0 win vs East Jefferson….Lost 3-1 to rival Dominican at home Pink Game (21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 24-26)…4-1 and runner-up finish at Ed Daniels Invitational…Beat No.9 Ben Franklin 2-0 (25-19, 25-11) and Cabrini 2-0…Started Saturday with 2-0 (25-11, 25-16) win vs No.20 CHNI in crossover game…Beat No.8 PBS 2-1 (25-22, 15-25, 15-8) in Semis, then lost 2-0 to No.4 Country Day in finals…Congrats to MCA senior Olivia Meyer who surpassed the 1,000 career digs mark during the tournament.

6 (t). Haynes (22-6, 4-2 week)…Started week with 3-0 win vs Livingston…lost 3-2 to SSA (19-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-19, 6-15)…went 3-1 at Ed Daniels Invitational…beat No.8 PBS 2-0 (25-22, 25-23) and SSA 2-1 (25-17, 23-25, 15-12) Friday…Lost to No.15 EDW 2-1 (22-25, 25-17, 14-16) then beat No.9 Ben Franklin in finals of Silver Division.

Coach’s Comments: “I feel like it was a good week for us overall with room for improvement. We had some wins against some great programs which was exciting. We had chances to close out on the matches we lost and came up short, but I am confident that being challenged in these matches will pay off in the future.” Ashley Miller

6 (t). Dominican (22-7 overall, 21-7 vs LA, 5-1 week)…Beat John Ehret 3-0 and No.5 MCA 3-1….3-1 at Ed Daniels Invitational…Lost to No.10 John Curtis 2-0 (2-25, 19-25) and beat Calvary Baptist on Friday…Beat South Lafourche and No.20 CHNI 2-1 

Coach’s Comments: “We are really proud of our team and how they continue to trust the process and work hard toward our common goal. This week had some highs and some hards, but they continue to give us their all.” Jessica Chatellier 

Top Performers this week: Lauren Pipitone finished the week with 120 digs in 6 matches and has truly been a force on defense. Zoie Mitchell played a huge versatile role for us this week and finished the week with 44 kills

8. Parkview Baptist (17-8 overall, 16-7 vs LA, 3-2 week)…A 3-0 win (25-18, 25-16, 25-21) vs No.19 Teurlings Catholic to start the week….2-2 at Ed Daniels Invitational…lost to No.6 Haynes 2-0 (22-25, 23-25) and beat No.15 EDW 2-0 (25-23, 25-23) on Friday…Beat SSA 2-0 (25-20, 25-21) then lost to No.5 MCA 2-1 in Semis

9. John Curtis (24-6, 4-2 week)…Lost to No.9 Ben Franklin 3-0…Beat PJP 3-0…went 3-1 at Ed Daniels Invitational…Beat No.7 Dominican 2-0 and Calvary Baptist on Friday…Beat South Lafourche then lost to No.4 Country Day in Semis on Saturday…Congrats to senior libero Marissa Taix who passed 1,500 career digs this weekend at the Ed Daniels Invitational.

10. Ben Franklin (22-7, 3-3 week)…Started the week with 3-0 win (25-22, 25-23, 27-25) vs No.10 John Curtis….Beat McMain 3-0…Went 1-3 at Ed Daniels Invitational…Lost to No.5 MCA 2-0 and beat Cabrini on Friday…Lost to No.13 Vandebilt (16-25, 19-25) and No.6 Haynes

Coach’s Comments: “As the regular season wraps up next week, our focus is on preparing mentally for the state tournament. We faced some tough competition in the Ed Daniels Invitational, and staying tightly knit on the court while trusting each other will be key mentally for the post season.

“Against John Curtis Maddie Elzey had a match high with 7 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. That’s tremendously impressive for a MB. Lilly Mayes hand an impressive 9 digs and a 2.8 serve receive percentage.” Kim Buford

11. Westminster (Opelousas) (25-5, 2-0 week)…Pair of 3-0 wins…vs Notre Dame (25-21, 25-19, 25-13) and Highland Christian

Coach’s Comments: “We had a solid win against Notre Dame.  Our defense is playing really good right now with senior Kristian Thomas as our libero. Bethany Stoute (Middle) and Anna Ware (Setter) are in the groove with one another which creates a difficult matchup for our opponents.” Keith Leon

12Hahnville (24-5, 6-1 week)…Beat EA 3-0…Beat Central Lafourche 3-1 (25-13, 25-9, 28-30, 25-17)…Went 4-1 at Newman Tournament (3rd place)…Beat No.23 Northshore twice (once in third place game), Notre Dame, and PJP…lost to No.17 Newman..

13. Vandebilt (20-5, 3-2 week)…Beat Lutcher 3-1 (25-16, 21-25, 25-16, 25-21)…Went 2-2 at Ed Daniles Invitational…lost 2-1 to No.4 Country Day (25-22, 22-25, 6-15) and No.20 CHNI 2-0 on Friday…beat No.9 Ben Franklin 2-0 (25-16, 25-19) and Calvary Baptist 2-1 (20-25, 25-12, 15-12)

14. E.D. White (13-9, 4-1 week)…Beat Berwick 3-0…Went 3-1 at Ed Daniels Invitational…Lost to No.8 PBS 2-0 and beat SSA 2-0 on Friday…Beat No.6 Haynes 2-1 and Cabrini on Saturday…

Coach’s Comments: “It was a great week for us. We are slowly starting to play like a team and improve each game.” Sara Johnson

15. Lafayette Christian (29-3, 1-0 week)…Beat Lafayette Renaissance Charter 3-0 (25-2, 25-8, 25-10) 

16. Newman (19-8 overall, 4-2 week)…Started with a 3-1 win vs Kenner Discovery (25-10, 22-25, 25-14, 25-21)…then 3-2 at Newman Tournament…Beat No.11 Hahnville, No.22 Fontainebleau, and Assumption…lost to Chapelle 2-1 (25-20, 20-25, 11-15) and Fontainebleau in finals

17. Dutchtown (24-7, 2-1 week)…Started week with 3-2 loss (22-25, 25-21, 25-18, 21-25, 14-16) to No.25 NLC…Followed with 3-0 wins vs Walker and Zachary

18. St. Michael (21-3, 2-0 week)…Two 3-0 wins over Madison Prep and Episcopal 

19. Fontainebleau (23-9, 6-1 week)… Started with 3-0 wins vs EA and Covington…4-1 and winners of Newman Tournament…Lost to No.17 Newman and beat Assumption, Chapelle in pool play…beat No.23 Northshore in Semis 2-1 (16-25, 25-20, 15-12)…Beat No.17 Newman in finals 2-0 (26-24, 25-21). Up three positions from last week.

Top performers of the week: Ava Frerman 88 kills hitting percentage %298 8 blocks passing percentage 2.43 and 13 aces 62 digs

Hannah Ellis 134 assists 6 aces 26 digs 29 kills

20. Sam Houston (33-5, 6-0 week)…Started with a 3-0 win vs Rayne… 5-0 in Baton Rouge Tournament vs 5 Non-Power 25s…Terrebonne, Walker, Woodlawn, West Fel, and Barbe

21Catholic High N.I. (18-8, 3-3 week)…A pair of 3-0 wins vs Houma Christain and Patterson to start the week…1-3 at Ed Daniels Invitational…Beat No.13 Vandebilt (2-0) and lost to No.4 Country Day (2-0) on Friday…Lost to No.5 MCA (2-0) and lost to No.7 Dominican on Saturday

22Teurlings Catholic (14-12 overall, 13-11 vs LA, 1-1 week)…3-0 win vs Cecilia and a 3-0 loss to No.8 PBS

23. Northlake Christian (17-12, 2-0 week)…3-2 win vs No.16 Dutchtown (25-22, 21-25, 18-25, 25-21, 16-14)…3-0 win vs Ursuline

Coach’s Comments: “We’ve had a tough schedule this season. All to prepare us for the tough teams we will face later in our division. I’m proud to see the girls meshing on the court. We have been competing with big teams but struggled to finish, it’s been nice to have two 5th set finishes over the last two weeks. Abby Bailey and Khloe Duncan have been leading in kills offensively for us and Abigail Willie our setter has made a great showcase back after a knee injury.” Lindsey Donovan

24. Northshore (14-12, 4-3 week)….Started with a pair of 3-0 sweeps vs Hammond and Mandeville…2-3 at Newman Tournament…wins vs Notre Dame and PJP…loses to No.11 Hahnville (twice) and No.22 Fontainebleau

25. Dunham (20-7, 3-0 week)…Beat Baker and Episcopal 3-0…beat Central 3-1 (25-16, 25-27, 25-19, 25-14)

Others

St Joe’s  (13-12, 11-2 vs LA, 2-0 week)…Beat PJP 3-2 (22-25, 25-15, 25-18, 15-25, 15-10)…beat Liberty 3-0 

SSA (13-13, 4-3 week)…Started with 3-0 wins vs Walker and Pearl River…Beat No.6 Haynes 3-2 (25-19, 25-22, 16-25, 19-25, 15-6)…1-3 at Ed Daniels Invitational…..Lost to No.15 EDW, No.8 PBS, and No.6 Haynes…beat South Lafourche

Lakeshore (16-11, 3-4 week) Beat Salmen and Crescent City both 3-0

U-High (22-4, 1-0 week)…beat Madison Prep 3-0

C.E. Byrd (24-8…2-1 week)…Lost to Calvary Baptist 3-0 (16-25, 14-25, 20-25)…Beat Benton 3-2 and Captain Shreve 3-1


Breakdown by Division

Division I

1. Slidell

2. Mt. Carmel

3. Dominican

4. Hahnville

5. Dutchtown

6. Fontainebleau

7. Northshore

8. SJA

9. C.E. Byrd

Division II

1. STM

2. Ben Franklin

3. Sam Houston

4. Teurlings Catholic

5. SSA

6. Lakeshore

Division III

1. Hannan

2. Haynes

3. Parkview Baptist

4. Vandebilt

5. EDW

6. St. Michael

7. U-High

Division IV

1. John Curtis 

2. LCA

3. Newman

4. CHNI

5. Northlake Christian

6. Dunham

Division V

1. Country Day

2. WCA Opelousas


VSN Broadcast Live Streaming Schedule

Tuesday October 22

Teurlings @ STM

David Thibodaux @ Cecilia

Wednesday October 23

Fontainebleau @ MCA

Sacred Heart Grand Coteau @ Cecilia

Thursday Oct 24

Salmen @ Sacred Heart (Sr Night)

Country Day @ Ben Franklin

MCA @ Chapelle

Dutchtown @ Parkview Baptist

Patrick Taylor at AOL