- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,264,452
- Reaction score
- 59
School is in session for Lafayette Parish and its surrounding areas, which means the countdown is real for the 2026 high school girls volleyball season.
Teams across the 337 have been eager to get back on the court as they prepare for jamborees and the start of another competitive year of volleyball. Last season, 27 area teams earned a spot in the LHSAA five-division playoff brackets with nine of them making it all the way to the Cajundome.
For the second year in a row, St. Thomas More and Westminster Christian Academy-Opelousas were the last area teams standing, making it to the finals round in Division II, and V brackets respectively. The Cougars snagged the lone state champion from the area, winning their fifth straight title in a row.
With the season right around the corner and a revitalized chance at a state title on the line, here are the top seven area teams with the best shot of bringing hardware home this 2026 girls volleyball season.
2025 record: (42-6, 8-0)
Summary: You can’t talk 337 volleyball without mentioning STM as the Cougars have been a powerhouse for the last decade. The 2026 season will be no different despite them graduating last year’s DII state finals MVP, Marvel Pottier. One of STM’s key returners will be junior outside hitter Morgan Dunn, who had a standout sophomore campaign. Dunn averaged nearly three kills per set to finish with more than 300 total kills. Another key name coming back is junior middle blocker Abby Strother and senior defensive specialist Virginia Blancard. The trio will look to lead the Cougars as they strive for six straight titles.
2025 record: (23-6, 3-0)
Summary: The Crusaders have gotten oh so close to snagging the DV state championship in the past two years, ending last season in the semifinals. They graduated one of their biggest weapons on offense in outside hitter Laila Gauthier and will be looking for a new wave of players to lead them back to the Cajundome. Key players to helping WCA to a deep postseason run are juniors Kenzi George and Londyn Pickney. Last season, George averaged around two kills per set while Pickney led the Crusaders in total blocks.
2025 record: (27-13, 4-0)
Summary: It was another bittersweet end for the Knights in 2025 as they saw their season end in the DIV quarterfinals. On the bright side, they returned a good chunk of weapons from last season after two starters from last year. Two players to keep an eye out for this fall are seniors Grace Alexander and Demi Barrett. The duo were go-tos for LCA on offense with Alexander leading them in total kills (463) and digs (480). Barrett wasn’t too far off racking up 306 kills and averaging over three kills per set.
REQUIRED READING: Daniel Lotief looks to bring toughness back to Rayne football in 2026
REQUIRED READING: Louisiana football's Shelton Sampson sidelined with injury at fall camp
2025 record: (21-8, 5-0)
Summary: The Sharks were the one of the top dogs of their district last season and they’ll look to keep that up this season following last year’s 5-1 record. They will look to get over the quarterfinals playoff hump this fall after losing to Slidell 3-0 in 2025. Some key returning who can help Southside make a deeper postseason run are seniors Kellis Burgess and Brylee Slaughter, who both earned All-Metro second team honors.
2025 record: (26-13, 7-1)
Summary: After coming so close to punching their ticket to the semifinals last season, the Rebels are itching to get back to Cajundome. They graduated a handful of seniors from last year’s campaign including big names like outside hitter Olivia Hebert, setter Anna Claire Hebert, and libero Carsyn Fontenot. With so many roles to fill, Teurlings will be more underclassmen heavy this fall. Senior outside hitter Hannah Bergeron will look to lead on and off the court after racking up nearly 250 kills as a junior.
2025 record: (17-16, 3-0)
Summary: The Pios players left their hearts on the court last season, giving Dunham all it could handle before falling against the Tigers in the DIV quarterfinals. After that postseason run, Notre Dame will have some work to do to get back there after graduating a handful of seniors including Mary Ellen Trahan and Valarie Brown.
2025 record: (21-10, 5-0)
Summary: The Falcons were the top dogs of their district last season and they’ll look to keep that up this season following last year’s 5-0 record. They ended their playoff run in the DV quarterfinals losing against the eventual runner-ups Central Catholic. This go round, with senior outside hitter Avery Monica leading the charge, ESA is hoping to get over the quarterfinals hump in 2026.
Shannon Belt covers high school sports, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and LSU men's basketball for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Here are the Top 7 Lafayette-area volleyball teams to watch in 2026
Continue reading...
Teams across the 337 have been eager to get back on the court as they prepare for jamborees and the start of another competitive year of volleyball. Last season, 27 area teams earned a spot in the LHSAA five-division playoff brackets with nine of them making it all the way to the Cajundome.
For the second year in a row, St. Thomas More and Westminster Christian Academy-Opelousas were the last area teams standing, making it to the finals round in Division II, and V brackets respectively. The Cougars snagged the lone state champion from the area, winning their fifth straight title in a row.
With the season right around the corner and a revitalized chance at a state title on the line, here are the top seven area teams with the best shot of bringing hardware home this 2026 girls volleyball season.
You must be registered for see images attach
1. St. Thomas More
2025 record: (42-6, 8-0)
Summary: You can’t talk 337 volleyball without mentioning STM as the Cougars have been a powerhouse for the last decade. The 2026 season will be no different despite them graduating last year’s DII state finals MVP, Marvel Pottier. One of STM’s key returners will be junior outside hitter Morgan Dunn, who had a standout sophomore campaign. Dunn averaged nearly three kills per set to finish with more than 300 total kills. Another key name coming back is junior middle blocker Abby Strother and senior defensive specialist Virginia Blancard. The trio will look to lead the Cougars as they strive for six straight titles.
You must be registered for see images attach
2. Westminster Christian-Opelousas
2025 record: (23-6, 3-0)
Summary: The Crusaders have gotten oh so close to snagging the DV state championship in the past two years, ending last season in the semifinals. They graduated one of their biggest weapons on offense in outside hitter Laila Gauthier and will be looking for a new wave of players to lead them back to the Cajundome. Key players to helping WCA to a deep postseason run are juniors Kenzi George and Londyn Pickney. Last season, George averaged around two kills per set while Pickney led the Crusaders in total blocks.
You must be registered for see images attach
Lafayette Christian Academy
2025 record: (27-13, 4-0)
Summary: It was another bittersweet end for the Knights in 2025 as they saw their season end in the DIV quarterfinals. On the bright side, they returned a good chunk of weapons from last season after two starters from last year. Two players to keep an eye out for this fall are seniors Grace Alexander and Demi Barrett. The duo were go-tos for LCA on offense with Alexander leading them in total kills (463) and digs (480). Barrett wasn’t too far off racking up 306 kills and averaging over three kills per set.
REQUIRED READING: Daniel Lotief looks to bring toughness back to Rayne football in 2026
REQUIRED READING: Louisiana football's Shelton Sampson sidelined with injury at fall camp
You must be registered for see images attach
4. Southside
2025 record: (21-8, 5-0)
Summary: The Sharks were the one of the top dogs of their district last season and they’ll look to keep that up this season following last year’s 5-1 record. They will look to get over the quarterfinals playoff hump this fall after losing to Slidell 3-0 in 2025. Some key returning who can help Southside make a deeper postseason run are seniors Kellis Burgess and Brylee Slaughter, who both earned All-Metro second team honors.
You must be registered for see images attach
5. Teurlings Catholic
2025 record: (26-13, 7-1)
Summary: After coming so close to punching their ticket to the semifinals last season, the Rebels are itching to get back to Cajundome. They graduated a handful of seniors from last year’s campaign including big names like outside hitter Olivia Hebert, setter Anna Claire Hebert, and libero Carsyn Fontenot. With so many roles to fill, Teurlings will be more underclassmen heavy this fall. Senior outside hitter Hannah Bergeron will look to lead on and off the court after racking up nearly 250 kills as a junior.
You must be registered for see images attach
6. Notre Dame
2025 record: (17-16, 3-0)
Summary: The Pios players left their hearts on the court last season, giving Dunham all it could handle before falling against the Tigers in the DIV quarterfinals. After that postseason run, Notre Dame will have some work to do to get back there after graduating a handful of seniors including Mary Ellen Trahan and Valarie Brown.
7. Episcopal of Acadiana
2025 record: (21-10, 5-0)
Summary: The Falcons were the top dogs of their district last season and they’ll look to keep that up this season following last year’s 5-0 record. They ended their playoff run in the DV quarterfinals losing against the eventual runner-ups Central Catholic. This go round, with senior outside hitter Avery Monica leading the charge, ESA is hoping to get over the quarterfinals hump in 2026.
Shannon Belt covers high school sports, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and LSU men's basketball for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Here are the Top 7 Lafayette-area volleyball teams to watch in 2026
Continue reading...
