by RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

No. 10 seed St. Charles notched one of its most impressive victories of the season Wednesday, defeating Cecilia, 25-13, 25-8, and 25-14 in the regional round of the Division III state volleyball playoffs.

But Thursday, the Comets season came to an end at the Pontchartrain Center, as it lost in the quarterfinal round to No. 2 seed E.D. White, 25-12, 25-17 and 25-23.

“I’m disappointed for the team and our seniors,” said St. Charles Coach Brandy Ryan. “We did accomplish our goals this season of winning district and getting to the Pontchartrain Center, advancing to the quarterfinals.

“It’s still disappointing for us, but I give credit to E.D. White, they were the better team today.”

Against E.D. White (30-9), Katie Tregre led St. Charles with five kills. Lauren Coniglio added five blocks. Meg Gustafson notched two aces. Courtney Western had twelve assists and Brooke Becker contributed 12 digs.

For E.D. White, Kathryn Stock led the way with 17 kills, nine blocks and three aces. Jessica Polltz had 33 assists, and Caroline Becnel added 19 digs.

White advanced to face the winner of No. 3. Ursuline and No. 11 De La Salle on Friday in the semi-finals.

E.D. White scored at a blistering pace in the first game, running out to a 16-6 lead early and coasting to a 25-12 victory to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

“I didn’t feel like we were mentally into it in that first game,” said Tregre. “We realized that we had to come together and play as a team.”

The Comets (25-16) came out of the blocks in the second game fast, running off a 5-0 lead, the last point coming on a Tregre kill. But White scored nine of the next ten points to take a 9-6 lead. White maintained a three-to-four point advantage until a Coniglio kill made it 16-13. Kills by Lindsay Constant and Stock propelled White on a 8-2 run, and White would roll to a 25-17 win.

St. Charles maintained the advantage throughout much of the third game. Two early kills by Becker sparked the Comets to an early 9-4 lead. But after a Coniglio kill made it 13-7, White scored six straight points to tie the game. From that point on, St. Charles got ahead and nursed a small lead.

(See COMETS Page 8A)

With SCC leading 19-18, two Gustafson kills made it 21-18, and after a White score, a Tregre kill made it 22-19.

Two Stock kills highlighted a 5-0 White run that made it 24-22 and match point. The Comets staved off elimination on the next point, but not for two, as a Stock kill ended the match.

“In the third game, we played with our hearts,” said Tregre. “I’m very proud. We played until the last ball was hit and 25 was on the board.”

In the regional win over Cecilia, Tregre had nine kills. Coniglio had five blocks and three aces. Western had 23 assists, while Becker had seven digs.

The Comets won the first game 25-13, controlling it throughout.

In the second game, Cecilia trailed 11-7 before St. Charles scored 14 of the next 15 points to finish the contest, including a 12-0 run. In the run, Gustafson notched two blocks and two kills. St. Charles finished the game when Cecilia could not handle a Coniglio return.

The teams went back and forth in the third game until, with St. Charles leading 15-12, a Coniglio kill sparked the Comets on an 11-2 match-ending run, which she also ended with a match-clinching kill.

“We came together as one and really worked as a team,” said the Comets’ Ashley Trosclair after the win. “Early on in the season, we had trouble doing that. We’ve really come together.”

It was the last game in the Comet careers of Coniglio, Tregre and Trosclair.

“This has meant everything to me,” said Tregre. “It’s been great having these girls as teammates. I’ve always tried to give 110 percent to it.”