By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — West St. John edged South Plaquemines in the first game of the non-district match between the teams Thursday and rolled from there, the Rams walking away with a 27-25, 25-15 and 25-21 victory in its final regular season game.
Sydnei Young made five kills and served three aces. Dmyriah Herbert made four kills. Maya Trench had three kills and two blocks. Lakeedra Lewis added three aces.
West St. John coach Glenda Mattos was very pleased with the way her team is heading into the playoffs.
“I felt like we dominated the match,” said Mattos. “South Plaquemines has come a long way from the beginning of the season when we saw them. But once we got it together in the first game, we really controlled things. We inverted our defense again to defend them from dinking into the middle, and once we eliminated that we held our ground.”
Mattos said that the Rams (14-8, 1-5) took early control and held it in the second game thanks in large part to its strong serving.
“We served a lot stronger and they were having trouble returning,” said Mattos, who noted Tre’shaun Trench and Brittany August as her top servers in the game.
WEST ST. JOHN FALLS TO CENTRAL CATHOLIC — In the final District 6-V match of the season for the Rams, WSJ fell to Central Catholic in three games, 25-10, 25-13 and 25-13 Tuesday.
Young had three digs and two blocks. Herbert made two kills.
“Central Catholic has some very powerful hitters,” said Mattos. “They read the floor very well. We were able to defend against their spikes fairly well, but they dinked over our blockers for a lot of points.”
Mattos said that bouncing back from Tuesday’s loss to best South Plaquemines was a big momentum boost as West St. John prepares for the postseason.
The coach said she can see her team growing and maturing, and her players are excited to return to the playoffs.
“They’re really looking forward to it,” said Mattos. “I think getting that win helped their confidence a lot.
One player Mattos said has grown into a key role is August, her setter.
“I tell her, ‘You’re controlling things out here. You call the plays and guide the action,’” said Mattos. “She’s been getting better every match.”