Resilient Cajuns Bounce Back to Upset John Curtis in Four Sets

by: Mike Strom // GeauxPreps.com Contributor

Country Day volleyball looked to be slow starters, but fast finishers in its Monday night match at John Curtis.

Once the Cajuns found their rhythm, they shrugged off an opening game loss to win the next three and record a 3-1 victory against the state’s No. 1 ranked team in Division IV at Curtis’ lower campus gymnasium in River Ridge.

Five different Cajuns had monstrous efforts to pace the reigning Division V state champions to a 22-25, 25-18, 25-11, 25-23 non-district victory that represented Country Day’s fifth consecutive win in six instate matches.

Senior setter Maggie Schneider recorded 47 assists and 15 digs, senior middle blocker Lia Beverly had 21 kills and 1.5 blocks and senior libero Addison Launey had 25 digs and 3 aces while sophomore outside hitter Jade Washington recorded 15 kills, 19 digs, and 2 aces and senior outside hitter Jane Gambel had 13 kills and 2 blocks.

Country Day (9-4) entered as the No. 2 ranked in Division V behind Westminster Christian, whom the Cajuns defeated in the state finals last season to record the Metairie program’s eighth consecutive state crown and 14th overall under Coach Julie Ibieta. The Cajuns also return all six starters from a year ago.

“We started slow in this match and we had to get into the right pace,’’ Ibieta said. “But once we found our rhythm we played some really good volleyball. I just thought overall that it was a really good match. Curtis did a great job.

“It was exciting. It was a lot of nice plays, a lot of long, defensive rallies. I was pleased, pleased that my team hung in there and fought for everything. So I’m very happy with tonight.’’

John Curtis (12-3) carried the top ranking in Division IV into the match in addition to having defeated Country Day last season. Curtis last season advanced to the state semifinals where the No. 2 seeds lost to No. 3 and eventual state champion Northlake Christian.

Sophomore outside hitter Makayla Korter recorded 18 kills and 10 digs, junior setter Alyzia Cola dished out 42 assists to go with 9 digs and senior libero Marissa Taix registered 19 digs and 2 aces to lead Curtis.

“I think we started off a little bit stronger than they did in the first set,’’ Curtis coach Alyx Carter said. “They struggled a little bit with ball control, but they bounced back pretty quick from that. I think they just kind of caught us on our heels come that third set. We struggled in serve (and) receive and we were just on the defensive. With a team like that that has good senior leadership and good hitters, it’s not something that you can afford to do. The sets that we lost, we were on the defensive most of the time. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t our night.’’

The match certainly started off looking like it might be the Patriots’ evening as Morter and junior outside hitter Addilyn Dufrene were heavily involved in supplying Curtis with a 25-22 win in game one and the early advantage.

Beverly, Washington, Schneider, Launey, and Gambel then provided the push in games two and three that put Country Day into the driver’s seat for the game four closeout.

“Last year we lost to John Curtis and it was a tough loss in five sets,’’ Beverly said. “It was in the middle of the season and there was a lot of that same energy that was present tonight.”

“We came into this game knowing that it was going to be a tough environment. It’s loud. This is a new gym. We’ve never played here before, but the idea was that we just needed to get after it.

“Instead of playing on the defensive, we needed to be on the offensive. That’s how we were successful in the game, honestly, and that’s what I’m proud of the most because sometimes in other games we’ll play on the defensive, play more scared. We’ve been working on it in practice to just get after it. Even if you’re on defense, use that ball and just go on up and get that kill.’’

“Curtis is a really strong team,’’ Schneider said. “Their defense was there, so we had to adjust and hit around it. When we hit balls hard instead of like tipping or being timid, we were very successful. And we were able to score when we did that.”

“I just think that we got in a mentality where nothing hit the ground and we stayed on the offensive the whole time. We were not on our heels waiting for them to hit at us. We’re hitting at them. And we’re getting to any balls we can.’’

Beverly, Washington, senior right side Elle Nunez, and sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter Marleigh White proved to dominating forces at the net in game four while Launey’s serving and Schneider’s assists continued to hurt Curtis in the decisive 25-23 game 4 match.

The Patriots rallied from 23-18 down in the fourth game with Washington, Beverly, White, and senior outside hitter Elle Nunez pacing the late charge. Nunez and Beverly had consecutive kills before Launey served an ace and Gambel followed with 2 kills to tie the score at 23.

A combination block and kill by Nunez and Curtis’ inability to return Launey’s final serve accounted for the final two points and match victory.

“I thought we did a great job serving,’’ Ibieta said. “We started off slowly with that, too, but we came around so tough with that. I thought our offense clicked. We started pursuing balls, just out-hustling and it all just came around and clicked for us. Just every part of the game, I thought we did well most of the night.”

“I thought our offense did a really good job and Maggie leads that offense with her setting. But I thought they all stepped up and we had plenty of options. It wasn’t just one person. I thought it was a balanced offense. We had a lot of people that we could go to and everybody did their job. So I’m very proud of them. And, I thought, our defense did a great job. I’m just happy we won.’’

“The first set we had energy, but it wasn’t enough,’’ Washington said. “So when we came back, we needed to push it. Last year we lost to them, so we were like this was like a revenge match. We’re going to beat them. So we pushed for every single point and we laid our bodies on the ground to win.

“I think the difference was both teams were blocking, but we were getting through the block better. I feel like we have more blocks than them and also they had very good receivers. Maybe it was the hitting percentage on our side. I feel like we did better on defense and getting the balls down and running our system. That was it.’’

Curtis will regroup, Carter, the Patriots coach, said.

“One thing I tell my kids is if you can walk away from the night and be happy with the way you performed, even though nobody wants to lose if you can walk off the court and go home and you’re like we did what we could, I’m happy with that,’’ Carter said. “We can keep getting better. I think most of my team can say that. So I’m all right with this loss, it’s a good one.’’

Country Day, which was coming off a 4-3 appearance against out-of-state competition in the Border Battle Tournament in Franklin, Tenn., this past weekend, returns to action Wednesday when the Cajuns play host to reigning Division IV state champion Northlake Christian at 5:30 p.m. The Cajuns then play host to reigning Division I state champion Dominican at 5:30 p.m. Thursday before traveling to Baton Rouge to participate in the St. Joseph’s Tournament Friday and Saturday.

The Cajuns play Lakeshore and host St. Joseph’s at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. respectively on Friday while Saturday’s schedule is dependent on winning and losing from Friday.

Curtis next plays at Thomas Jefferson at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in Gretna.

“I’m just proud of the way we worked into our rhythm because sometimes it takes us a while,’’ Beverly said. “I’m just proud that we kept our heart and kept going. It’s fun to play like that. That’s the whole thing about it when you’re not playing scared and you know your team has got your back, that’s when it’s fun to play.’’

As for what separated the Cajuns from Curtis Monday, Beverly said it was much the same as it generally always is regardless of the opponent.

“I think it’s the heart that we’re playing with,’’ Beverly said. “A lot of us have been on this team for a little bit. We have some newbies, but me and my fellow seniors, we just want to leave it all on the court. Like we have nothing to lose.

“We have a tough schedule and that’s what it’s about. It’s about getting better from (playing) these tough teams. So if we go out and we keep getting after it, that’s just getting us better and better.’’