One of the best seasons in Hahnville history came to an end last Thursday night in Lafayette as No. 13 Northshore eliminated the No. 4 seed Lady Tigers, 25-22, 25-21, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10.
Hahnville captured the first two sets in the match before the third set proved a turning point, the Lady Panthers taking it after a back-and-forth battle. That would be the first of three consecutive sets earned by Northshore (22-17).
The Panthers advanced to the semifinals where they fell to eventual Division I state champion Slidell.
Hahnville finished the season with a record of 32-8. The Tigers won District 7-1 with a perfect record in league play and reached the state volleyball tournament for the first time in 19 years.
HHS head coach Mendi LeBoeuf said her players fought hard and competed throughout the quarterfinal, but that it simply wasn’t the Tigers’ day.
“I didn’t feel like we were necessarily playing our best volleyball, but obviously felt very good about getting sets one and two,” said LeBoeuf. “We talked about how the third one is the hardest one to get, so we had to really focus and finish strong. It was very close – we just weren’t able to finish it. Things got tough from there.”
Northshore, LeBoeuf said, presented problems and lifted its play as the match went on.
“We knew it would be a battle. Northshore’s a good team that poses a lot of issues,” LeBoeuf said. “They block really well. As the match went on, I felt like they got more and more aggressive offensively.”
It was the final match for one of the most dynamic players in Tigers’ history, senior outside hitter Mariah Mott. The Tigers’ leading hitter was a major factor from the first time she stepped on the court at Hahnville and has been a core piece of a very successful run at Hahnville – the Tigers earned district championship honors three seasons in a row.
“She’s such a dynamic athlete to begin with but what I like the most about Mariah is she’s a very hard worker and very reflective. She never settles. She’s been that way since her freshman year,” said LeBoeuf. “She’s constantly working to bring her play up another level. Sometimes with kids who are super athletic, they don’t have that mindset.
“Mariah’s worked that way her entire four years here. Her technique’s gotten better. Her decision making’s gotten better. She’s a very good six rotation player – she never felt satisfied and became a very well-rounded volleyball player. It’s really impressive.”
Mott is one of a group of seven core seniors who LeBoeuf said leave a legacy with the program: Mott, Ebby Zeringue, Kylie Spurgeon, Olivia Schlumbrecht, Makynzi Williams, Hadley Ladner and Madelyn Savage.
“They made the commitment, improved individually, set goals as a group and worked together to attain them,” said LeBoeuf. “You don’t often find that many in one group who share that kind of determination. It’s a special group and we’re going to miss them – they’re great volleyball players but also great people, great academically and well-rounded kids.
“The way they work, I think their legacy will be leaving a certain standard behind that the younger players have witnessed and, hopefully, will want to hold themselves to.”
