Chalmette Advances With 30-Kill Performance in Five-Set Playoff Win
Junior Kynlee Bertheaud led the Owls past Hahnville, securing a trip to the second round.
By Marta Gray ·
Chalmette volleyball defeated Hahnville 25-11, 25-19, 29-31, 21-25, 17-15 on Wednesday night to secure a spot in the second round of Division I playoffs.
Junior outside hitter Kynlee Bertheaud recorded a match-high 30 kills for the No. 9-seeded Owls. She accounted for 13 of those kills during the first two sets, when Chalmette held a commanding lead in their home gym.
Hahnville, the No. 24 seed, staged a comeback by winning the third and fourth sets. Senior Alania Thompson hit back-to-back kills to give the Tigers a two-point lead in the third set. Sophomore Layne Glider served an ace to end the fourth set, tying the match at two apiece.
The decisive fifth set remained close until the end. Hahnville tied the score at 15, but Chalmette junior Aniya Sanders killed the ball to take a 16-15 lead. The final point came when Hahnville's attempt to keep the match alive landed out of bounds.
Chalmette coach Mallory Chiappetta praised the squad for their resilience. "They played like a team, and they played for each other out there," Chiappetta said. "I'm just super proud of them for hanging on and pushing forward every single point."
Hahnville coach Mendi LeBoeuf described the effort as a testament to the team's resilience. "We didn't play very well early on, but I thought we did a great job of being resilient," LeBoeuf said. Wednesday marked her final match as the Tigers' head volleyball coach. She is also the athletic director and plans to retire at the end of the school year.
Chalmette's offense relied on depth beyond Bertheaud. Senior Charlon Bright added 19 kills, while sophomore Brylee Lacoste distributed 43 assists. Senior Kinsley McInnis recorded 42 digs for the Owls. For Hahnville, senior Maci Hollingsworth led the attack with 25 kills, and sophomore Sophia Hotard served 20 assists.
The Owls will travel to face No. 8-seeded Ruston at noon on Saturday. The winner of that matchup will advance to next week's state tournament at the Cajundome in Lafayette. Chalmette last reached the state event in 2010.
