E.D. White was one set away from the Division II semifinals. Instead, No. 10 Academy of Our Lady came back to beat the second-seeded Cardinals 3-2 in Thursday’s LHSAA state quarterfinal at the Cajundome in Lafayette.
The Penguins took a tight opening set 25-23, but E.D. White answered in a big way, winning the second set 25-13 and taking the third to go up two sets to one. Our Lady wouldn’t go away. The Penguins won the fourth set 25-19 to force a deciding fifth, then closed it out 15-12.
Zhoey Johnson led Our Lady’s attack with 23 kills, and Kindle Coleman and Aubrey Jackson added 16 kills apiece. It was the second straight five-set playoff comeback for the Penguins.
For E.D. White, the loss closes a season that started out looking like a rebuilding year. Coach Sarah Johnson’s young roster had just one senior, her daughter Kiley Johnson, and the Cardinals still earned the No. 2 seed and reached the Cajundome after playoff wins over McDonogh 35 and Pearl River. E.D. White was chasing the second state title in program history and its first since 2008.
With most of this group expected back, the Cardinals look set to make another run next fall.
