Both the Teurlings Catholic and Cecilia volleyball teams came into Tuesday's District 4-II match on winning streaks.
The Rebels, who won 25-13 25-14, 25-11, have swept their past 18 sets (13 by double digits), while the visiting Bulldogs had a six-game win streak snapped.
"Finally," chuckled Teurlings Catholic coach Terry Hebert of the six-match winning streak, the Rebels' longest since winning the first three of the season.
"We're a work in progress. We're not a young team classification-wise, but we're a young team varsity-wise with five or six newcomers."
Teurlings (13-10, 5-0) lists 11 juniors or seniors out of 14 players on the roster. Senior outside hitter Charli Boulet, who led the attack with 18 kills, six digs and a block, is 10th statewide with more than 200 kills.
"We're just trying to find that magical lineup that works," Hebert said. "I know they're talented enough. They need to know they're talented enough."
The Rebels have turned an early Achilles' heel into a strength, serving with a 91.5% success rate against Cecilia (17-8, 3-3). Brooklyn Blanchard (nine digs, 19 assists) accounted for four aces. Middle blocker Lily Luneau (four kills, four digs, two blocks) had the other ace.
"I'm so proud of them," said Hebert, who said the Rebels had a total of 32 service errors in the first three matches of the season. "Even without a lot of aces, they're hitting the zone I asked them to hit. At the beginning of September, we were nowhere near that."
Sage Jones, Lindsey Delhomme and Anna Claire Hebert didn't notch aces, but the three were accurate on 45 of 48 serves, many of which sailed into difficult terrain for the Bulldogs.
"Both of our setters did a great job distributing the ball," Hebert said of Blanchard and Anna Claire Hebert (17 assists, eight digs, one kill).
"Cecilia is very scrappy defensively. They're big up front. We worked on hitting against a big block (Monday). One comment I could not make earlier in the season was that we were serving well. Tonight, we served well."
Kylie Meagher finished with 19 digs, with Jones and Delhomme combining for 20 digs. Ava Hebert added nine kills. Mya Leonard, Carsyn Fontenot and Hannah Bergeron combined for 12 kills for the Rebels, who have key matches coming up against Parkview Baptist on Oct. 16 and rival St. Thomas More on Oct. 22.
"We've been successful in district, but I don't think we've been tested as much as I would like," Hebert said. "STM has a little more offensive firepower than we do, and defensively they're always good. We're going to have to play really solid and consistent to have a shot at it."
The Rebels won eight straight state titles from 2013-2020 and have finished as Division II runner-up to STM the past three years.
"With so many newcomers to the varsity court, it's been a matter of letting them feel the pressure of being a Rebel, of having that name on the back of their jersey," Hebert said.
The Rebels are No. 8 in the Division II power ratings. At No. 13, Cecilia is in position to host a playoff game.
"My girls have done so well," said Cecilia coach Catherine Touchet, whose squad lost as the No. 31 seed to No. 2 E.D. White in the 2023 playoffs.
"This team has really come through and shown the leadership that they're willing to go the distance. This is the highest seed we've had in my four years here. I'm hoping we can compete in the first and second round and have a chance of making it to the third round."