MICHAEL KIRAL

River Parish AAU team helping local players

LUTCHER – The River Parishes has had a history of success in volleyball in recent years. At least one team from the area has made it to the state tournament the last 15 years. This past season, five teams made the trip to the Pontchartrain Center for the tournament. But the River Parishes clubs are still at a disadvantage to teams from such areas as New Orleans, Jefferson Parish and Baton Rouge in that those teams play year-round in AAU programs, gaining needed experience. To close that gap, local coaches have come together to form an AAU Junior Olympics volleyball program right here in the River Parishes. The program consists of four teams -14 and under, 15, 16 and 17-18. Practices are held Thursday and Sunday nights through January. Beginning in February, the teams will start competing in tournaments, beginning with the Hurricane Tournament at the Alario Center in Westwego Feb. 3. Millicent Sylvain, a former Alcorn State player and the current coach at Romeville Elementary, is coaching the 14 and under team as well as the 17-18s. Current Lutcher High School coach Ricky LeBlanc, a former USA Volleyball Club player, is coaching the 15s. Former UNO volleyball player and current Riverside head coach Toni Miano is coaching the 16s. East St. John head coach Sandi Stein, is a consultant for the River Parishes team. “It’s a big softball area here,” LeBlanc said. “We’re trying to get volleyball on the same level.” Miano pointed out that the all-Metro team for this season was dominated by Orleans and Jefferson parish players. “The level is not as high as the Metairie and New Orleans teams because they play all year long,” Miano said. Sylvain added that the experience will help the players if they want to continue to play the sport in college. “We’re going to try to develop the basic skills,” Sylvain said. “If you learn the basic fundamentals in volleyball, it can carry you a long way. They will also learn tournament play and that will give them the exposure and experience in what they play in college. And it could motivate them to want to play in college.” Fifty-seven girls from around the River Parishes have signed up to play in the program. Each of the nine high schools in the area are represented by at least one player. Players from Romeville Elementary, Lutcher Junior High, Riverside and Reserve Christian are playing on the 14 and under team. “We had a really good turnout,” Miano said of the first practice held last Sunday at Lutcher High School. “We hope for each school to be able to take something back. To have them spread the word and have even more involvement next year.” Kate Lehrmann of Riverside said she joined the program to get more experience. “I wanted to play volleyball out of season,” Lehrmann said. “I wanted to get more practice for volleyball. It’ll help the players a lot. We would not have been cold for six months when we start up again in the summer.” Reserve Christian’s Renee Delaneuville echoed that sentiment, saying “We’ll be more ready when the season starts. Practice makes perfect and the better we will be.” West St. John’s Tana Mitchell said the experience will help her help the Lady Rams more next season. “I want to try to better all my skills,” Mitchell said. “I’ll be able to help everybody else up if we get down.” Allison Fisher of St. Charles Catholic added, “It’s a great opportunity to get experience and be able work with people from other schools.” East St. John’s Artrena Radcliffe said she will be able to take back the things she learns from the club and teach them to her teammates on the Lady Cats. Teammate Danielle Washington, playing on the 17-18 team, agreed. “I will be able to help my other teammates,” Washington said. “I’ll get more experience and get to know more people.” St. James’ Tauranarist Green agreed that the experience will help her in the long run. “I want to try to get better to be able to play in college,” Green said. “It’s going to make me better, getting to know the things I need to know.” In addition to the Hurricane Tournament, the River Parish club will compete in the Cajunland Tournament at Loyola University in February. The Louisiana Games will be held March 31 through April 1 at the Alario Center. The club’s goal is to make it to Orlando for the Junior Nationals in June. To raise money to participate in the tournaments and for equipment, the club will hold fund-raisers throughout the season. A can-shake at Wal-Mart and Winn-Dixie in LaPlace is being held today. A football pool for the Super Bowl is also being held.