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Calvary players celebrate winning a LHSAA Division IV playoff match against Thomas Jefferson at Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, La., Friday, Nov. 8, 2024.
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save There has never been a northwest Louisiana high school volleyball team in the state semifinals. A post shared by @318preps Calvary Baptist Academy has tried. And tried.
And tried again. The Lady Cavaliers have been the only local team to qualify for the state tournament, but haven’t been able to collect a W. Thursday, they are confident that will change in Lafayette as they face Isidore Newman, a team they’ve already defeated this season, in the Division IV quarterfinals at the Cajundome.
“It was the best game ever. We were so hype,” Lady Cavs senior Emily Pierce said of the matchup with Newman at an early-season tournament in Ruston. “We're hoping we can recreate that.
” What lies beyond the confidence for a team that’s been stopped short of the semifinals so many times? A common theme was the first thing mentioned by every one of the five players interviewed by the Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate on Wednesday. Photos: Calvary hosts Thomas Jefferson in volleyball playoffs Calvary swept Thomas Jefferson to advance to the quarterfinals of the LHSAA Division IV State Volleyball Tournament. “Our team chemistry is insane,” senior Susanna DiStefano said.
“We all work so well together and we all love each other, as a whole and individually, and we all know what it takes to be champions. In past years we haven't had that mind-set, that champion mindset. Coach Sonny (Kerbow) has really put it in our minds that we are able to do this.
” Many players believe things changed at an Ole Miss camp in July. “We did Bible studies and we had come-to-Jesus meetings about a lot of things,” Allie Hutchings said. “That was like, ‘Wow, this is different, we're good.
’” Two months later, they defeated Newman, 26-24, 25-20, en route to a 29-8 regular-season mark, including a sweep of District I, Division IV. “We just put each other first and we learned this isn't something we can do by ourselves, we need each other for this,” senior Alexandra Campanella said. Said Kerbow: “It’s definitely team above me and we don’t have a weak position on the court.
Every position is strong.” Wednesday night, Shelby Simmons, will lead a devotional that will focus on “fear of the unknown.” “I love figuring out things that's going to help our team,” Simmons said.
“I just love that I feel like it brings us all together. It's honestly one of my favorite things about this team.” The Lady Cavs won’t have to wait long for their shot at history.
The match against Newman is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
Kerbow can attempt to show his girls how far they’ve come in his first year at the helm, but a victory Thursday would be worth an endless amount of coach speak. “It’s huge,” Kerbow said. “It means whatever we’re doing here – we’re doing the right stuff.
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