By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

Destrehan knew it needed to right the ship after a district loss to St. Amant and did just that on Tuesday against rival East St. John.

DHS came away with a convincing 25-10, 25-10, 25-22 win over their District 3-I foes, earning its 20th win of the season.

“We wanted to make sure we came out with energy,” said Destrehan’s Alexis Keller, who led her team with eight kills and seven aces. “We have to be excited and play excited no matter what the situation is.”

Robin Sill had eight assists for Destrehan. Michelle Haydel had 11 digs. Dadrion Tuircuit added three blocks.

For East St. John, Alexis Banks had eight kills and five digs. Taja McGee had four kills and five digs.

Destrehan (20-4, 2-1) charged out the gate early, clinching a 25-10 win in the first game on a Keller ace.

It led 11-7 in the second game before a spike by Liz Chaisson was followed by another Keller ace, sparking a run. A Sill ace made it 18-8 to cap a 7-1 run. Then, after a serving error, DHS scored the next six points, highlighted by two Melanie Vidrine aces. Taylor Hamric’s block finished things off for the 25th point.

DHS ran out to a 20-11 lead in the third game, but East St. John fought its way back in. A Deznee Wilson dink made it 20-13. Tykee Anderson’s ace made it 20-15, and Wilson added a kill to make it 21-17. McGee served an ace to cut the DHS lead to two, and a Keller kill sailed too far to make it a one point game, 21-20.

But Destrehan settled down. Keller’s next spike was accurate, making it 22-20. An ESJ return error made it 23-20, and Keller found a hole in the ESJ defense for a tip to make it 24-20. ESJ staved off elimination, scoring the next two points, but a serve out of bounds clinched the win for Destrehan.

“I think we were a little more focused at the beginning (of the match),” said Keller. “We have to maintain that.”

Destrehan coach Denise Keller said that her team’s defensive play has been vital in its hot start this season.

“We’ve been scrappy,” she said. “We’re covering lot of ground, and it’s showing in our wins. Everyone’s excited about the way we’re playing.”