By GEOFF STOUTE

gstoute@daily-review.com

It’s déjà vu for the Berwick Lady Panthers as they enter the 2012 Division 3 prep volleyball playoffs.

Not only will the Lady Panthers (10-19) have to travel to face Metairie-based Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies (18-10) in the first round for the second-year in a row, but both teams enter Thursday’s matchup as the same seeds as a year ago, Berwick, No. 19 and Haynes, No. 14.

To cap the irony, Berwick has to do what it did a year ago: beat the home standing squad.

The Lady Panthers will try to repeat their feat when the two teams meet Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

In their 2011 playoff match, Berwick won a 3-2 decision.

After dropping the first game 24-26, the Lady Panthers responded with a 25-19 win.

However, they dropped the third game, 11-25, before responding with wins in the last two games, 25-22 and 15-10.

The Lady Panthers enter the contest as the third-place team out of Division 3, District 5 behind district champion E.D. White and runner-up Vandebilt Catholic. E.D. White is the No. 2 seed in the Division 3 playoffs, while Vandebilt Catholic is the No. 6 seed.

Haynes finished as runner up in District 9 to Ben Franklin as Haynes fell to the district champion both times they played. Ben Franklin is year’s No. 4 seed, and its 33 wins are the most in Division 3 this year.

Their prior district matchups mean both teams already have been exposed to some of Division 3’s best volleyball programs.

Although the Lady Panthers were unable to beat either E.D. White or Vandebilt Catholic this year, they did have their moments as they took Vandebilt Catholic to four games when both teams met the first time in Division 3, District 5 play, while in their last matchup against E.D. White, the Lady Panthers rebounded from a rough first game to play the Lady Cardinals tough in the final two games, including a 26-24 defeat in the third game.

While Haynes could never take Ben Franklin to the wire in a game, the squad showed potential earlier this year when it took a game from Division 3’s top seed, Ursuline Academy, but ultimately fell in the match in four games.

Both teams have one opponent in common this season in East St. John.

While Haynes Academy defeated them in non-district play, the Lady Panthers fell to them at the Lutcher Tournament.

Berwick coach Charlotte Menard could not be reached Tuesday evening for comment for this article.