#5 Lady Tigers Battle Through Challenging Week

The Marksville Lady Volleyball Tigers aren’t shying away from tough competition as they continue building toward their ultimate goal, playing for a championship in November.

Marksville went 4-2 during a demanding six-match stretch, improving to 17-4 overall while currently sitting at No. 5 in the Division IV power ratings.

The Lady Tigers picked up victories over South Beauregard and DeQuincy on Sept. 19, then followed with wins over Opelousas Catholic on Sept. 23 and St. Edmund on Sept. 24.

Marksville’s only two setbacks during the stretch came against Iota, the No. 1-ranked team in Division III, giving the Lady Tigers another opportunity to measure themselves against one of the state’s top programs.

Junior captain Kennedy McDaniel led the Marksville attack throughout the week, finishing the six-match stretch with a team-high 69 kills. McDaniel continued to provide a physical presence at the net and has remained a centerpiece of the Lady Tigers’ offense.

Junior Isabella Brossette delivered one of her strongest stretches of the season.

Despite being an undersized pin hitter, Brossette contributed 19 kills and made a major impact from the service line, leading Marksville with 65 service points won during the week. Her performance earned her Dr. Breen Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Junior outside hitter Katie Lachney set the tone defensively.

Lachney recorded a team-high 55 digs, but her impact went beyond the stat sheet. Her consistency in serve receive allowed Marksville to stay in system and create offensive opportunities throughout the six matches. Lachney’s performance earned her recognition as the Calgaro Construction Defensive Player of the Week.

For head coach JT Dunbar, the Lady Tigers’ 17-4 record is important, but so is how they are getting there. Marksville has intentionally tested itself against quality competition with the belief that difficult matches now will better prepare the Lady Tigers for postseason volleyball.

“We like the position that we are in right now,” Dunbar said. “Playing a challenging schedule will prepare us for a playoff run in November. Our girls set a goal of making it to the Cajundome, and we can’t do that without being challenged by some of the best teams in the state.”

That goal has remained at the forefront as Marksville enters the next stage of its season.

At 17-4 and No. 5 in Division IV, the Lady Tigers have put themselves in a strong position entering October. But for a team with its sights set on the Cajundome, the regular-season record is only part of the journey.