Welsh continued its string of firsts and Barbe ended a long drought in the first round of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association volleyball playoffs on Wednesday.

Division IV No. 16 Welsh made its first playoff game a memorable one as they beat No. 17 Many 25-19, 25-19, 25-22 at home for the first playoff win in its fourth varsity season.

“They’re really invested in trying to get volleyball up and going at Welsh, and they’re trying to do anything and everything to get it going and put in the work that we had,” said third-year head coach Samantha Shutlz. “We had an assistant coach (Jason Ledet) come in this year who really helped us.

“He had some experience in coaching volleyball, and he helped us as well because I was new to it.”

Playing at home in the postseason for the first time, the Greyhounds were a bit nervous at first but relied on the strength of a strong senior class — Alexis Hayes, Olivia Benoit, Maggie Johnson, Kate Davis, Jenna McMillin, Jessie James, Juliana Robin — to push through an early deficit. Benoit led the way with 10 kills and 12 digs, Johnson and Hayes combined for 11 aces and Davis had 20 digs.

“We have a good group of seniors, and this was the goal for the year, was to make playoffs, have a winning season, and they’ve accomplished it,” Shultz said. “It was neck and neck the whole time.”

“Then once they won that first set, I think the confidence really set in that they could do it and then they finished strong after that. We had a lot of people there supporting us and cheering us on. The girls were really excited.”

No. 14 Barbe won its first postseason game since 2017 after sweeping No. 19 Central Lafourche 25-15, 25-16, 26-24 in the first round of the Division I playoffs.

“We have worked hard all season to this point,” Barbe head coach Katie Franks said. “The girls’ goal this beginning of the year, being in the top 16 to host a first-round playoff game, and then next goal after hosting was to win the first round and make it to the second round.”

The Bucs never trailed in the first two sets but did fall behind early in the third set before Kennedi Burks closed out the match with her 10th kill. Danyele Wallace added 13 kills.

“We started thinking too much,” Franks said. “I don’t want to say panic but started just overplaying a little too much, getting a little too excited, and had to calm down and then come back and play with composure. I was very proud of them for finishing it in three.”

Southwest La. performed well in the bi-district round with six of 11 teams advancing to the second round.

In Division II, No. 2 Sam Houston swept David Thibodaux 25-11, 25-10, 25-12 to move a win away from their third consecutive trip to the LHSAA state tournament at the Cajundome (Nov. 12-14). Aubrie Port nearly had a double-double with nine kills and 14 digs. Ava Henry had a match-high 18 kills.

Iowa was the only area team that won on the road in the first round. The Division III No. 17 Yellow Jackets cruised to a three-set win over No. 16 Livingston Collegiate 25-8, 25-9, 25-11. Lanee Duplechain led the way with 11 kills, and Brylie Matt had six aces and eight digs.

Also in Division III, No. 9 Westlake beat Port Allen 25-5, 25-12, 25-8 as Gabby Guillory and Shamira Guilory combined for 23 kills.

No. 11 St. Louis Catholic moved on to the regional round for the first time since 2021 after taking out L.B. Landry 25-19, 25-10, 25-19.

Wednesday

Volleyball

Bi-district playoffs

Division I

No. 14 Barbe 25-25-25

No. 19 Cen. Lafourche 15-16-24

Central Lafourche (23-18). Barbe (26-14): Danyele Wallace (13 kills), Kennedi Burks (10 kills, 10 digs), Ann Kat Barrett (9 aces, 18 digs), Madilyn Areno (22 assists), Morgan David (10 assists).

No. 18 Ponchatoula 25-16-23-25-15

No. 15 Sulphur 20-25-25-17-13

Ponchatoula (22-16). Sulphur (25-20).

Division II

No. 8 S. Lafourche 25-25-25

No. 25 Leesville 8-12-12

Leesville (10-16). South Lafourche (28-13).

No. 7 Kenner Disc. 25-25-25

No. 26 LaGrange 19-17-19

LaGrange (11-15). Kenner Discovery (27-7).

No. 2 Sam Houston 25-25-25

No. 31 David Thib. 11-10-12

David Thibodaux (9-19). Sam Houston (37-6): Aubrey Portie (9 kills, 14 digs, 2 blocks, 2 aces), Bailey Foolkes (26 assists, 4 kills, 5 digs, 2 aces), Ava Henry (18 kills, 4 digs), Salem Arceneaux (19 digs, 2 aces), Ali Wills (10 digs, 2 aces).

Division III

No. 17 Iowa 25-25-25

No. 16 Livingston Collegiate 8-9-10

Iowa (15-17): Lanee Duplechain (11 kills), Brylie Matt (8 digs, 6 aces), Laura Armentor (27 assists, 4 aces). Livingston Collegiate (14-13).

No. 9 Westlake 25-25-25

No. 24 Port Allen 5-12-8

Port Allen (14-13). Westlake (21-11): Gabby Guillory (13 kills, 9 digs), Shamira Guillory (10 kills), Maddy Guillory (32 assists, 8 digs), Cat Jones (4 aces, 19 digs).

No. 11 St. Louis 25-25-25

No. 22 L.B. Landry 19-10-19

Lord Beconfield Landry (12-15). St. Louis Catholic (23-11).

No. 2 Haynes Acad. 25-25-25

No. 31 Jennings 11-5-8

Jennings (8-14). Haynes Academy (31-7).

Division IV

No. 16 Welsh 25-25-25

No. 17 Many 19-19-22

Many (12-11). Welsh (13-8): Olivia Benoit (10 kills, 12 digs)), Sofia Maldoni (7 kills), Kate Davis (20 digs), Maggie Johnson (6 aces), Alexis Hayes (5 aces).

No. 12 Thomas Jefferson 25-25-25

No. 21 Vinton 15-18-14

Vinton (16-9): Kelsey Jones (5 kills), Lauren Heinen (12 assists, 2 aces, 5 digs), Jolie Gary (2 kills, 5 digs). Thomas Jefferson (21-18).

Schedule

Regional playoffs

Division I

No. 14 Barbe at No. 3 Mt. Carmel, Noon Saturday

Division II

No. 15 Assumption/No. 18 Beau Chene winner at No. 2 Sam Houston

Division III

No. 17 Iowa at No. 1 Archbishop Hannan, 5 p.m. Friday

No. 9 Westlake at No. 8 Iota, 4:30 p.m. Friday

No. 11 St. Louis Catholic at No. 6 E.D. White, 5 p.m. Friday

Division IV

No. 16 Welsh at No. 1 John Curtis Christian, 4 p.m. Friday