Fontainebleau’s Lady Bulldogs squared off with cross-town district rival Mandeville Lady Skippers Thursday in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner. The Lady Bulldogs swept the Lady Skippers 25-15, 25-22, 25-19 behind a balanced hitting attack with Haley Bonneval generating 13 kills, Jessica Guttierrez 12 and Delaney Pittari with 10. Michelle Cabeceiras netted 38 assists. Caitlyn Auxilien spearheaded the defense with 20 digs, while Guttierrez registered three blocks. Bonneval and Morgan Todd served two aces each for the Lady Dawgs.

Auxilien, the Lady Dawgs’ libero, said her club played well and wanted to beat their cross-town rival.

“I’m glad we were successful. We know how they play and they know how we play. It was a fun match,” Auxilien said.

Mandeville’s Katie Lindelow prepares to hit a kill attempt against Fontainebleau’s Sarah Ulm in Thursday’s quarterfinal match at the Pontchartrain Center. (Staff Photo by Mike Pervel)

Auxilien talked about how tough it is digging hits by Katie Lindelow.

“Katie is such a good hitter and is a tough competitor. There is a lot of speed on the ball coming off of her hits,” Auxilien added.

Lindelow, MHS’ super soph, showed her versatility banging down a match high 15 kills along with 18 digs and four blocks to lead the Lady Skippers (25-10). Nichole Freeman contributed 12 assists with four blocks. Hannah Campbell served the Lady Skippers’ lone ace.

With game one tied 7-7, FHS’ Guttierrez blasted a kill and Auxilien ran off four straight including an ace. Pittari added a kill for a 12-8 margin and Pittari followed with four points of her own to build a 16-8 advantage.

MHS’ Lindelow knocked down five kills in game one, but it wasn’t enough as FHS took the game 25-15.

FHS coach Danny Tullis said it is difficult playing Mandeville.

“Sometimes its not even about volleyball. It’s about the cross-town rivalry. They play hard and we play hard. They have some great players and it is always close every year,” Tullis said.

“I was glad my girls were able to play hard nosed defense. Haley (Bonneval) had a great game. I felt she attacked the ball well. Caitlyn (Auxilien) played a strong match and it was good to get out in three games to save some legs,” Tullis added.

In game two, FHS rushed out to a 6-1 lead following four points by Cabeceiras with Bonneval and Sarah Ulm collaborating on two kills each sandwiched around an ace.

MHS’ Campbell ran off four points for the Lady Skippers including an ace to tie things at 6-6. Tied at 8-all, MHS’ Jess Himel served three points, but FHS answered with a Guttierrez kill to regain serve. Auxilien stepped in and put down three consecutive points including a Guttierrez block and a Pittari kill. Game two was later tied three times with the final stalemate coming at 20-20 on a Guttierrez smash. Pittari gave Fontainebleau the lead with three consecutive points, which was only interrupted by a Lindelow kill before the Lady Dawgs put game two away on a Bonneval kill at 25-22.

Mandeville took a 1-0 lead in game three, but FHS answered with a Guttierrez kill and then she served three straight points. Lindelow did her best to keep the Lady Skippers in it, knocking down two consecutive kills, while adding a block on Campbell’s three service points and a Maddie Baker slam to take a 7-5 lead.

Guttierrez answered with two kills, but a service error gave the ball back to Mandeville. Leading 9-7, the Lady Skippers’ Lindelow fashioned three service points and MHS appeared to be in control with a 12-7 lead, but FHS managed to fight back and regain some momentum. Trailing 15-13, Pittari downed four straight points with an ace to recapture the lead at 17-15.

MHS’ Kelsey Sparks downed a kill, but the Lady Skippers couldn’t keep control by serving into the net.

FHS’ Taylor Anderson dropped a perfectly placed dink for a 21-18 advantage and Bonneval tallied on two serves for a 23-18 margin. Lindelow came up with a big block, but Pittari answered with a dink in the middle of the floor and Morgan Todd served an ace to close out game three 25-19 to end the Lady Skippers’ season.

Five Mandeville seniors, Campbell, Kristen Nelsen, Camille Sistrunk, Sparks and Corinne Tanner, closed out their Lady Skippers’ careers.

MHS coach Christy Sanantonio said was brilliant at times and when it wasn’t working for them it was ugly.

“Our players played with their hearts. We just couldn’t close the deal at times. We made too many mistakes in a row. We were up at times and then we let them creep back in,” Sanantonio said.