By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – After advancing in the volleyball postseason for the first time since 2008, St. Charles Catholic’s season came to an end Monday at Notre Dame, as the top seed in Division IV collected a three-game sweep to advance to the state volleyball tournament, 25-8, 25-9 and 25-7.
Alyssa Arceneaux led St. Charles with 15 digs.
The 17th-seeded Comets defeated St. Katharine Drexel last week in five games to advance to round two, but were overmatched by a powerful Pioneers team.
“Our girls never got down on themselves,” said St. Charles coach Kristin Sullivan. “They weren’t playing scared, weren’t intimidated. (Notre Dame) is just a very, very good team and a tough matchup for us, or anyone for that matter.’
“We drew the top seed and that was tough. But we improved a lot toward the end of the season. We were a lot more consistent over the last two weeks. That gives everyone some motivation to come back stronger.”
The Comets (11-25) will lose three seniors from this year’s squad in twin sisters Brittany and Brooke Tregre and Erin Tuircuit. Sullivan said the team will miss that trio, but also expressed optimism about the returning group.
“A lot of our girls barely played JV a year ago and were starting varsity this year,” said Sullivan. “This year was a big learning experience and a valuable one. We played a lot of very good, talented teams this season, not just a Notre Dame, but teams in our district and throughout the schedule. That only makes everyone better.’
“We were up and down all season. We started quick, then went into a slump before we started to gel together late. Everyone kept a great attitude all year.”