Ten parish volleyball players to watch in 2018
With August now here, the anticipation does not just build for the upcoming football season; it also builds for another exciting year of Ascension Parish volleyball.
Last season, five of the six parish schools reached the volleyball playoffs, and as many of the players that spearheaded those postseason runs return, they're hoping for the same kind of success in 2018.
Here are 10 Ascension volleyball players to watch this upcoming season:
Diamond Jones (East Ascension)
Diamond Jones is the most decorated parish player returning in 2018. The senior is coming off of a season in which she piled up 401 kills, 81 blocks and 80 aces. She was the 2017 District 4, Division-I MVP. Jones helped lead the Lady Spartans to a 31-11 record and a trip to the second round of the playoffs.
Zoe Wooten (Dutchtown)
Dutchtown saw some great performances last season by sophomore Zoe Wooten. Wooten earned first-team all-district honors, and she was also an honorable mention selection on the Baton Rouge area All-Metro squad. Now a junior, Wooten is one of seven rotational players returning for the Lady Griffins in 2018.
Gracie Duplechein (St. Amant)
St. Amant had to depend on many young first-year starters in 2017. One of the talented youngsters that emerged as one of their top stars was freshman Gracie Duplechein. The setter/outside hitter compiled 666 assists, 268 kills, 251 digs and 41 aces as she was named first-team all-district and All-Metro.
Lauren Landry (Ascension Catholic)
Ascension Catholic will be led by new head coach Janelle Leonard in 2018. She'll have some talented players leading her squad. This includes senior Lauren Landry. Landry has been named an all-district selection for the Lady Bulldogs two seasons in a row.
Kylie Jones (Ascension Christian)
Ascension Christian is losing some of their top stars in 2018--including Rhesa Jones and Jamilyn Robinson, but they'll have one their most consistent players returning. Kylie Jones performed well in 2017, and as a result, the Lady Lions reached the Division-V playoffs as the No. 15 seed.
Truli Joseph (East Ascension)
Last season, Truli Joseph stepped up as a sophomore for East Ascension. The middle blocker put up 238 kills and 63 blocks in what became a first-team all-district and first-team All-Metro season. Her team went on to win a share of the district championship and reach the second round of the playoffs.
Lauren Launey (Dutchtown)
Another starter Dutchtown will return in 2018 will be senior outside hitter Lauren Launey. Launey helped the Lady Griffins put together a 23-15 record in 2017. As far as personal accolades are concerned, she earned first-team all-district and honorable mention All-Metro.
Megan Benoit (St. Amant)
Megan Benoit will be looked upon to be one of St. Amant's senior leaders in 2018. She will be one of the few seniors on the team. As a junior last season, Benoit was named second-team all-district as she helped the Lady Gators win a share of the league championship and reach the state quarterfinals. It was the eighth straight season they reached the state tournament.
Isabelle Abadie (Ascension Catholic)
Joining Landry as one of the Lady Bulldogs' top upperclassmen in 2018 will be senior Isabelle Abadie. Like Landry, she was named second-team all-district last season. Ascension Catholic is looking to make it back to the state tournament this year, after being eliminated in the second round last season.
Jaela Drumgole (Dutchtown)
Jaela Drumgole burst onto the scene last year as a sophomore, helping Dutchtown win a share of the district title and reach the playoffs. The setter collected 612 assists, 251 digs and 37 aces. These gaudy numbers were enough to earn her both first-team all-district and first-team All-Metro honors.