By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

While Lutcher defeated St. Charles Catholic in the regional round of last season’s state volleyball tournament, the Comets still entered Tuesday’s game with the Bulldogs having won four of the last five meetings between the teams.

But if that weighed on the Bulldogs’ minds, it didn’t show.

Lutcher defeated St. Charles in three games, 25-17, 25-16, 25-18 at Lutcher in a non-district match between former district foes.

“We played like we’re capable of playing,” said Lutcher coach Ricky LeBlanc. “Defensively, we made a couple of little changes and we played real well. An our passing was very, very good. It was like what we set out to achieve each game.”

Comets coach Kelly Cupit had a different impression of her own team after the match.

“We just didn’t come out ready to play. We definitely didn’t play like we were excited to be here,” said Cupit. “It wasn’t the same, refreshed team we saw last week.”

Lauren Bourgeois and Keri Zeringue each tallied 14 kills for Lutcher (14-5). Holly Martin had 15 assists. Hannah Naquin added five aces, and Zeringue had 11 digs.

For St. Charles (6-10), Meg Gustafson led the way with 10 kills five blocks, and an ace. Courtney Western chimed in with 14 assists and 10 digs.

Lutcher surged ahead in the first game 7-2 behind three combined kills from Bourgeois and Zeringue. St. Charles rallied to pull within one, 13-12, after consecutive points by Gustafson on a block and a kill.

She and Bourgeois swapped spikes for scores, but another from Bourgeois sparked a 6-0 run by the Bulldogs that made it 20-13, and SCC wouldn’t recover.

Zeringue ended the game on fire, scoring each of Lutcher’s final four points on kills.

“I’d been in a slump lately,” Zeringue said. “I knew I had to pick it up today, so I was really focused.”

The second game was virtually even until Martin stepped to the serving line with SCC leading 9-8. Lutcher scored two points to take the lead, then Martin served two aces to make it 12-9. Two Bourgeois kills made it 16-10. A Jada Jasmin spike made it 19-10, and LHS would lead by as many as 10 before securing the 25-16 win.

“We had more little runs in this game than we had this past weekend,” said LeBlanc. “It really helps when you can run off four or five in a row consistently.”

The third game broke down virtually the same way as the second, with Lutcher busting open a 9-9 tie to take a big lead. This time the Bulldogs scored six straight points – including two Bourgeois kills – to go ahead 15-9. A kill by Rachael McNulty made it 19-15, and SCC would score another to pull within three. But Lutcher scored the next four points, and Jasmin’s dink would eventually end things.

“We knew we had to finish strong,” said Zeringue.

Said Cupit: “(Lutcher’s) a good team. And it’s a team I know we can compete with. We did it all summer. I’m excited for the rematch Saturday.”

That rematch will take place as part of the Lutcher tournament, which takes place Saturday and Sunday. SCC will also face Destrehan and Riverside.

VANDEBILT CATHOLIC DOWNS COMETS – The Comets faced Vandebilt Catholic at home on Thursday, but the Terriers came up with a big road win, 11-25, 24-26, 10-25.

Gustafson had six kills and three blocks. Kadie Levatino had 11 digs. Courtney Western had nine assists. Levatino, Western, McNulty and Peyton Millet each had two aces.