Lutcher had Iota on the ropes. The sixth-seeded Bulldogs won the first two sets and held match point twice in the fourth, but No. 3 Iota stormed back to win 3-2 in Thursday’s Division III state quarterfinal at the Cajundome in Lafayette.
Lutcher took the opener 25-23 and the second set 25-22. Iota found its footing in the third, winning 25-18, and the fourth set swung back and forth to the very end. Lutcher led 24-23 and again 25-24, one point from advancing, before Iota pulled it out 27-25. The momentum carried straight into the fifth, where Iota pulled away 15-7.
Greta Brown led Iota with 15 kills and Camrynn Lantier added seven. Addison Toups had 23 assists and 10 digs, and Jaycie Willis chipped in 21 assists and 12 digs. The win sends Iota to the state semifinals for the first time in program history, where it will face No. 2 Archbishop Hannan on Friday.
Lutcher finishes the season 22-17. The Bulldogs reached Lafayette after a bi-district sweep of De La Salle and a four-set regional win over Westlake, and came within a single point of the final four.
