Country Day Takes Seventh Straight Volleyball Title In Five-Set Thriller Over Westminster

by Geoffrey Stoute // GeauxPreps.com Contributor

LAFAYETTE – Metairie-Park Country Day won its seventh straight title with a five-set victory against Westminster Christian Saturday in the Division V state title game at the 2022 Louisiana High School Athletic Association State Volleyball Tournament at the Cajundome. 

The Cajuns (32-4) won the match 24-26, 25-20, 25-17, 20-25 and 15-7. 

Ellie Schneider was named the match’s Most Outstanding Player after recording 28 kills and adding 2.5 blocks and one ace. 

Gigi Dazet and Olivia Prout added nine kills apiece, while Emma Launey and Maggie Schneider added 28 and 25 kills, respectively.

Saturday’s title is the 13th overall for Country Day since 2009.

Westminster (35-8), in the finals for the first time in school history, was led by Abigail Cunningham, who had 22 kills and four aces. Carlie Horton added 17 kills and 20 digs. 

Ada Horton had 49 assists and Anna Ware recorded 48 assists. Caroline Lalonde led the team with 31 digs. 

Set 1

—Westminster took a 6-5 lead on Cunningham’s kill and held it until Country Day tied the game at 23 on Lia Beverly’s kill.

—The game was tied once more at 24 before a ball in the net on Country Day’s side gave the Crusader the game 1 victory.

Set 2

—Westminster again took  a lead at 13-9 during the match on a block. However, Country Day tied the match at 13 on a Westminster error.

—Country Day later took as much as a five-point lead on two occasions, the last on a kill by Ellie Schneider. 

—A Westminster serve out of bounds secured the match for the Cajuns.

Set 3

—Country Day used several blocks as it jumped out to a 12-5 lead.

  —Westminster go no closer the rest of the way as Country Day’s lead ballooned to as much as 24-13 on another block later in the game.

—Dazet’s kill secured game 3 for the Cajuns.

Set 4 

—Westminster led the entire match in set 4, taking a 10-4 lead early. 

—Country Day climbed to within 16-15 on a Westminster error. 

—Westminster ended the game on a 9-5 run to take the set.

Set 5

—Country Day never trailed and the match was tied only once at 1 on Carlie Horton’ kill.  

—The Cajuns took as much as a nine-point lead on a Crusader error. 

—A kill by Dazet ended the match.