News Post

The St. Joseph’s Academy volleyball team advanced to the semifinal round of the Division I LHSAA playoffs. Under first-year coach Donna Pixley, the Redstickers entered the playoffs as the No. 4 seed and recorded three straight 3-0 wins to earn a spot in the semifinals against No. 1 seed Dominican on November 14. The team fell 13-25, 15-25 and 18-25.

After a rough stretch in the middle of the season, the Redstickers ended the year with a 24-12 mark and captured the district championship. The turning point in the year came at the Academy of Our Lady tournament on October 11. After winning all three matches in Marrero, the team went on a 10-1 run to earn a top-five seed going into the playoffs. 

“I am extremely proud of this group for making it to the semifinals,” Pixley said. “I doubt many people thought we would be there, honestly. As competitors, while we were happy to advance that far, we are not satisfied and will be striving to make it to Championship Saturday in 2026.”

Senior Caroline Burkhalter said that making it to the Cajundome, site of the state tournament, was something the Redstickers had their eyes on all season. Even with the loss in the semifinals, she said she takes great pride in the successes of the year. “The Dome is somewhere that SJA has been absent from for the past two years, and to put us back in that position and in the mix of such great teams means more than just winning,” she said. “We had a losing streak in September but turned it around and, prior to the quarterfinals, we won 15 of our last 16 matches. We also played one of the toughest schedules with many opponents being ranked in the top five of their respective divisions.”

Junior Mackenzie Chuilli said advancing to the semifinals was an especially meaningful ending to a rollercoaster season. “We always talked about how it was not how you start; it was about how you finish, and even though we did not win state, we finished our season strong,” she said. “This team is very special, and I loved every minute of our season together. I want to thank Coach Donna for guiding us through this season and getting us to the semifinals and always reminding us, ‘Why not us?’ before every match. This season was truly amazing, and I am so proud of our hard work and determination.”

Sophomore Emmy Graves said that even during the early season challenges, the team kept working and improving. “By playoff time, you could really see how much we had grown,” she said. “This team meant a lot to me, and I’ll always remember all the fun moments we shared. No matter what happened, we stuck together and pushed through as a team. I’m also really thankful for Coach Donna believing in us and helping us stay focused when things got tough.”

Pixley said the highlight of the season was watching her team overcome adversity and stick together. Reaching the semifinal round exceeded expectations, she said, crediting the seniors for their invaluable leadership. “They wanted to leave a legacy for the program to continue to build upon, and they did that,” she said. “They were unselfish, great teammates who showed up to practice to work hard, learn and grow every day. They helped give the underclasswomen a taste of what can happen when you put the team first and work together. They helped them realize that they can achieve great things and cast a bigger vision for them in years to come.”