Chalmette knocks Mandeville out of playoffs

Mandeville’s Lady Skippers ran into difficult waters Thursday in the regional round of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state volleyball playoffs at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, falling to the Chalmette Lady Owls, 16-25, 25-27, 25-9, 22-25.

MHS (28-11), the No. 11 seed, ran into a talented, defensive-minded Chalmette club (32-8), the No. 6 seed.

The Lady Owls raced out to a 6-0 lead in game one on six consecutive points by senior Kayla Casbon.

Mandeville started the match a little tentative, but after trailing 7-1, Melanie Gaines put down a kill. Gaines then served five straight points to get the Lady Skippers back in it at 7-7.

MHS freshman sensation Katie Lindelow, who topped the Lady Skippers with a match-high 21 kills, rattled off three blasts during the five-point run. Game one remained a tight contest until Chalmette took a 16-12 lead. With Chalmette holding a 20-16 advantage, Destiny DelosReyes ran off five straight points to close out game one, 25-16. Casbon tallied two kills, and Carley McInnis added one to put away the game.

Game two, which featured 10 ties, proved to be the pivotal contest of the match. With Mandeville trailing 20-18, Lindelow fashioned one of her power kills to make it a one-point game. MHS senior Summer Burglass did her thing, serving five straight points to put the Lady Skippers up, 24-20.

Three Chalmette unforced errors, an ace and a Lindelow kill gave Mandeville the four-point margin.

An unforced error gave the ball back to Chalmette. The Lady Owls made the most of it with Victoria Smith hitting three straight points to tie things at 24-all. Mandeville’s Nichole Freeman put down a kill, but Chalmette’s Smith countered with a kill to make it 25-25. DelosReyes came up big in the clutch, serving two straight points, to take game two, 27-25.

MHS, in a must-win situation, took care of business in dominant fashion, grabbing game three, 25-9, with some excellent serving.

Leading 4-2, MHS’ Kana Koenig had two service points. Chalmette regained serve, but was unable to score. After a side out, Mandeville’s Burglass ticked off five straight points. The strong serving continued with Lindelow putting away four straight serves including an ace to build a 17-4 margin. Later Freeman joined the serving parade with three points to help put away the Lady Owls to force game four.

Lindelow, in addition to her 21 kills, topped the Lady Skippers with 24 digs. She said it was tough finding openings in the Chalmette defense.

“We would come up with big hits and want to turn around and start cheering, when you would realize the ball was coming back over. It was tough. We played our hearts out,” she said.

Chalmette opened game four with Casbon downing three serves for the quick lead.

The Lady Owls took advantage of the quick start and were able to keep Mandeville at bay. MHS trailed 19-12 when Lindelow downed a kill to regain serve. Lindelow did the honors stepping to the line, running off four consecutive points to get her Lady Skippers back in it at 19-17.

MHS’ Elizabeth Rinaudo and Freeman came up with a big tandem block. Freeman also added a kill along with one from Gaines. Freeman finished with nine kills and three blocks.

Chalmette regrouped following the Mandeville run and held on to take game four, 25-22, to advance to the quarterfinals against St. Joseph Academy.

Rinaudo, the Lady Skippers’ senior setter who finished with 26 assists and nine digs, said she never saw a team return the ball like Chalmette did.

“They have an amazing defensive team.” Rinaudo said.

“I’m glad we came back in that third game. It was a great season. We pushed as hard as we could. I’m so proud of my teammates,” Rinaudo added.

Gaines, who posted 16 digs and 11 kills for the Lady Skippers, credited Chalmette’s libero (Smith) with being everywhere.

“They were able to get a lot of balls up. Every time we thought we had a kill, they just got the ball right back up,” Gaines said.

Chalmette sophomore libero Haley Smith pulled up 40 digs during the match.

“They have an incredible defense,” said MHS coach Christy Sanantonio. “They aren’t known for their front line, but for their defense. They proved that. We kept hitting and hitting, thinking the ball would be down, but somehow it would come back over the net. Kudos to them.”

Koenig, a senior, finished her Lady Skippers’ career pulling up 18 digs, while fellow senior Burglass netted 19 assists and 17 digs.