A breakthrough season for Destrehan saw the Ladycats advance to the second round of the Division I playoffs, but a star-studded Mount Carmel lineup proved too high a mountain to climb, bringing DHS’ year to a close.
The No. 2 seeded Cubs (21-5) swept Destrehan (21-7) to advance to the state quarterfinals and to the state volleyball tournament, earning a 25-10, 25-12, 25-5 victory at home. Lindsey Wickersham led MCA with nine kills and 11 assists, while Rachelle Burdine had 18 assists for the Cubs. Ryley Boyne led Destrehan with seven kills.
“I was happy with our girls’ effort, the result just wasn’t there,” said DHS head coach Edward Borgstede. “Mount Carmel was seeded second, but I think they’re by far the best in the bracket. They come at you in waves. We played them earlier this season, but this time they had their setter back and they were even better than before. They went on runs. They were able to gouge us in bunches where we were getting a single point.”
Borgstede said his players took the loss hard and that he understood, because he’s seen the work and commitment they put into this season, both individually and collectively.
“The senior group this year was so good, their leadership was incredible,” Borgstede said. “This year we only had losses to teams ranked above us. In years past, that wasn’t always the case. This group as a whole was so committed … Sunday practices, Saturday afternoons … they wanted to do it and they made that commitment after last season.”
It yielded results. Destrehan won its district championship this season after three consecutive runner-up finishes.
It also yielded a playoff victory in round one, coming in its first playoff home game in several seasons.
DESTREHAN BESTS TERREBONNE – Addison Benefield slammed home a kill, and moments later there were tears of joy following Thursday night’s Division I playoff matchup between Benefield’s Destrehan Wildcats and visiting Terrebonne, as DHS moves on to round two after a 25-8, 23-25,25-22 and 25-22 victory.
The senior hitter’s kill officially spurred No. 15 seed Destrehan on to round two, where it will play No. 2 seeded Mount Carmel on Saturday. Time is still to be announced.
“We really wanted this game,” said Benefield. “We knew we were seeded higher, but we also knew what they were capable of. We knew they’d come out strong, and I think we used that to push ourselves to get the win.”
Junior Ryley Boyne called the win bittersweet, but with a lot more emphasis on the sweet part.
“It feels awesome, but also sad at the same time, because this was our last home game,” Boyne said. “But we came out and did what we needed to do.”
Boyne led all hitters with 24 kills. Benefield added 19 of her own. Alyssa Vicknair made 26 assists and Skylar Defrisco made 21. Chloe Schexnaydre led defensively with 18 digs.
Nyla Stokes had 17 digs for Terrebonne, the No. 18 seed in Division I. Alysia Miller had 24 assists and 15 digs. Bourgeois had seven kills and four blocks and Taylor had eight kills and four blocks.
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