• ORLEANS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
EMILY PEPPERMAN

• With family's help, Northlake Christian volleyball player determined to pick up where she left off
As the hours dragged on in the hospital waiting room, the anxiety and boredom grew for Mallory Horridge.

• Cabrini rolls past No. 1 Sam Houston
Cabrini Coach Greg Castillo told his team that Sam Houston, at the end of a three-day stay in New Orleans, was happy just to be in the Division II final after not making it in more than a decade.

• Fontainebleau falls just short
It was a scene that said it all.

• PROCESS OF ELIMINATION
On Saturday afternoon, "the process" produced a state championship for McGehee.

• 'Seventh heaven' for E.D. White
Just before the trophy presentation for Saturday's Division III volleyball state championship, the public-address announcer apologized for making the fans wait for a TV timeout.

• Wolverines rally to defeat Falcons
Northlake Christian's prospects of changing its status from defending state champion to two-time state champion seemed remote Saturday afternoon. The Wolverines fell into a two-game abyss against state volleyball titan Episcopal School of Acadiana and trailed 4-1 early in the third game.

• Fontainebleau reaches finals
Fontainebleau's cheering section started celebrating its team's victory over Mount Carmel one point too early Friday.

• Bulldogs close out St. Thomas More
The Division I quarterfinals match between St. Thomas More and Fontainebleau involved two evenly matched teams. The Cougars were seeded No. 4, the Bulldogs were No. 5, and the teams split two regular-season matches.

• Cabrini quickly disposes of Leesville
It took defending Division II state champion Cabrini less than an hour to dispatch Leesville on Thursday. The Crescents took a 25-11, 25-16, 25-12 win over the Wampus Cats, who were making their third state tournament appearance.

• Country Day sweeps into semifinals
The only thing Country Day Coach Julie Ibieta knew about her team's opponent on Thursday was what she could remember.

• Curtis outlasts Riverside
Curtis already defeated Riverside twice in district play this season, so it could have taken its quarterfinal playoff opponent lightly Thursday.

• McGehee regains its focus, advances
McGehee senior Kendall Fritchie stood at the service line and took a few deep breaths to clear her mind.

• Mount Carmel in top form as it beats SSA
It's like an annual mist wafting into the rafters of the Pontchartrain Center.

• Chalmette turns back Mandeville
Comebacks have been rare in Chalmette's season, but in the second game of a regional match against Mandeville, the Lady Owls staved off five game points before winning 26-24 in a game that set the stage for a match victory.

• Dominican goes 4-for-4
In the fourth meeting of the season between Chapelle and Dominican, little changed -- except the stakes.

• Falcons ousted quickly
Four-time state champion Ben Franklin was eliminated by second-seeded Notre Dame in the Division III regional 25-7, 25-16, 25-12 Wednesday at the Pontchartrain Center.

• FOOTBALL
PREP REPORT

• Lutcher stuns St. Charles
The Lutcher volleyball team noticed the possibility of a second-round match with district rival St. Charles as soon as it saw the Division III state tournament bracket.

• Sacred Heart ends Ursuline's season
"It takes three games to win. It takes three games to win. It takes three games to win."

• DISTANT INSPIRATION
Even though she is not with her team, Lions Coach Marta Bott is in the thoughts and prayers of Ursuline volleyball players and coaches every day.

• Belle Chasse keeps Riverdale at bay
Belle Chasse cruised into the second round of the Division II state tournament Monday night with a 25-6, 25-23, 25-22 victory over Riverdale at Belle Chasse.

• Cabrini sweeps Karr
Cabrini volleyball coach Greg Castillo said he didn't have much of a scouting report on Karr coming into Monday night's Division II bi-district match at Cabrini.

• Curtis proves too much for St. John at the net
In John Curtis' first-round playoff match against St. John on Monday afternoon, the Patriots' Alison Grabert experienced the serve without end.

• Fontainebleau serves notice it's dangerous from the beginning
Fontainebleau found a level of comfort in its victory over Thibodaux in the first round of the Division I playoffs Monday that could be cause for concern for other teams in their path.

• Newman dispatches rival Lusher with ease in Division IV match
Brittany Goodman had four aces and 21 digs to lead Newman to a 25-22, 25-7, 25-17 victory against Lusher in a Division IV bi-district match Monday night at Newman.

• Northlake Christian prevails
Northlake Christian won a mismatch against Ascension Christian 25-6, 25-4, 25-9 in the first round of the Division V playoffs on the Lady Wolverines' home court Monday night.

• Skippers get past Wildcats
Having missed last season's state volleyball tournament thanks to a first-round loss to St. Amant, Mandeville was on a mission to get to Kenner.

• Teams in mode for the playoffs
Destrehan Coach Denise Keller was caught in mid-afternoon thought.

• Volleyball teams ready for postseason
Casual fans looking for proof of the depth of volleyball talent in St. Tammany Parish can just look at the field for the playoffs.