The Woodlawn High volleyball team finished its regular season this week with the program’s best record in at least a decade.
The Panthers beat Baton Rouge Magnet in five sets Wednesday to improve to 23-13 and claim third place in the schools’ District 4-I standings.
That overall mark and .639 winning percentage are their best available in the LHSAA’s schedules archives, which date back to 2013.
“I’m very happy,” coach Maria Gonzalez said. “It went well. I wanted to get to 20 wins. That was our first goal, and we did and exceeded that and got three more wins. We should’ve one a little more, but that’s part of it.
“We usually lose in the first round, so our second goal is to get past the first round. So hopefully we can do that.”
Woodlawn awaits the LHSAA’s bracket release Monday to learn its official seed and playoff matchup.
But Gonzalez has been proud of the way the Panthers’ deep and talented roster has continued to come together against challenging competition and additional curveballs along the way.
“We’ve been on a rollercoaster ride,” she said. “We have injuries and people hurt and some people stepping up. We still have a couple people who are hurt that can’t play.”
Gonzalez shared a list of leaders such as seniors Reagan McDowell, Elysa Pitts, Marie Sierra and Karma Kasubaski; junior Branderia Graham, who has come on particularly strong late in the season; sophomore Krystel Amo; and freshman Katelyn Reed.
And the coach said that the Panthers have the potential to compete in the upcoming Division-I postseason if they can play up to their potential around those most consistent performers.
WOODLAWN HIGH VOLLEYBALL RECORDS
(10 years available in LHSAA archives)
year — record (percentage) — playoff result
2021 — 13-14 (.481) — Lost first round
2020 — 9-9 (.500) — Lost first round
2019 — 9-17 (.346) — Lost first round
2018 — 15-16 (.484) — Lost first round
2017 — 18-17 (.514) — Lost first round
2016 — 19-17 (.528) — Lost first round
2015 — 20-15 (.571) — Lost second round
2014 — 21-14 (.600) — Lost first round
2013 — 10-23 (.303) — Missed playoffs
