ESA Volleyball Advances to State Semifinals
Emary Fugarino and Lauren Conroy led ESA to a three-set sweep of Northside Christian in the Division V quarterfinals at the Cajundome.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Volleyball
ESA volleyball defeated Northside Christian 25-19, 25-19, 25-23 in the Division V quarterfinals on Thursday at the Cajundome. The win moves ESA into the state semifinals for the first time since 2021, after four straight quarterfinal exits.
Why it matters
The victory ends a four-season run in which ESA qualified for state but lost in the quarterfinals each year. It also lifts ESA to 30-7 on the season as the team seeks a deeper run in the Louisiana state tournament.
Kellen Giglio recorded 30 assists and Lauren Conroy added 14 kills and 15 digs in the sweep. ESA enters the semifinal at 30-7, while Northside Christian closed its season at 14-12.
The players
Emary Fugarino
Fugarino is an ESA volleyball player who recorded 14 digs and 2 aces in the quarterfinal win.
Lauren Conroy
Conroy is an ESA volleyball player who recorded 14 kills and 15 digs in the quarterfinal win.
The details
ESA won the match in three straight sets, with Conroy and Monica leading the offense. Emary Fugarino added 14 digs and 2 aces, and the team will face Riverside Academy at 10 a.m. Friday in the semifinals.
Timeline
2021: ESA last reached the state semifinals, finishing as Division V runner-up.
Thursday, November 12, 2026: ESA swept Northside Christian in the Division V quarterfinals at the Cajundome.
Friday, November 13, 2026, 10 a.m.: ESA scheduled to play Riverside Academy in the semifinals.
Season Trajectory
ESA's return to the semifinals breaks a pattern of four straight quarterfinal exits and returns the program to the stage where it last finished as state runner-up in 2021. The result reshapes the Division V bracket for a 30-7 team that has now won at least one state-tournament round in each of the past four seasons.
The semifinal berth gives ESA a chance to end a four-year streak of quarterfinal exits and play for a spot in the state final. Fans planning to attend can expect the Friday 10 a.m. start time for the Riverside Academy matchup.
The takeaway
ESA's three-set sweep shows a team that can control the middle of the court and close out sets with its serve and defense. Following the Friday semifinal will show whether the program can turn a long quarterfinal drought into a state-title run.
What happens next
ESA plays Riverside Academy in the Division V state semifinal at 10 a.m. Friday, November 13, 2026.
Further reading
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