Rams fall to Eagles

Published 12:00 am Saturday, November 7, 2009

By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

West St. John saw its season come to an end on the road Wednesday, falling in the bi-district round of the Division V playoffs to St. John-Plaquemine, 25-21, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23.

Deja Feist had seven blocks for the Rams (7-19). Malana Farnell had three aces. Talar Lewis added seven digs, and Taj Howard slammed three kills.

“The girls played really well,” said West St. John coach Valerie Gauthier. “It was a back-and-forth match. I know they held nothing back.”

Gauthier said she saw a different Rams team on the court than the one that finished its district schedule with six losses in six games.

“They knew that this was a different level,” said Gauthier. “In the postseason, you can’t afford mistakes. You have to play with skill and heart, and I feel like they did that.”

After tying the match at a win apiece, West St. John pushed the Eagles in each of the next two games. St. John was able to pull through in each with some late execution.

“They were a really good team,” said Gauthier. “They used their three hits well and they communicated with one another.”

It was the final match for four Ram seniors: Lewis, Farnell, Kori Herbert, and Kyla Morris.

Their last game represented the first postseason game in the careers of each.

“A couple of them shed tears,” said Gauthier. “They helped make my first year here a very positive experience. We were excited to finish with a playoff game.”