Lady Wildcats volleyball ready to get to work after big win

Published 12:03 am Saturday, September 12, 2015

RESERVE — The East St. John Lady Cats dominated the volleyball court Wednesday evening against the St. Thomas Aquinas Lady Falcons. After suffering a loss last week, the Lady Cats rebounded with a 3-0 win.

“Compared to what the team did last year, they are progressing at the speed that we need,” said ESJ head volleyball coach Chelsey Lucas-Nicholas.

“If they peak too soon the growth is going to stop. With what my expectations are right now, they are exceeding them.”

The Lady Cats came out on the court strong, scoring the first point of the day. Their infectious enthusiasm and spirit was palpable in the gym as they chanted and cheered during every play.

“Momentum in volleyball is how you make a team better,” Lucas-Nicholas said. “If you have momentum and skill, you can beat anybody. We have the momentum. If our skill level keeps growing and growing, we’ll be all right.”

With a team that is mostly sophomores, the Lady Cats do have a few stand-out players. Lucas-Nicholas said center Jessica Scioneaux, hitter Melinda Perrilloux, middle Chardea Berthelot and Kalah Jones are her top four.

“This is Melinda’s first year ever setting the ball,” Lucas-Nicholas said. “That’s why I’m so excited when she can set the ball. And Chardea is a sophomore so I’ve got her for two more years.

“But these are my four. They are my four that are carrying the team. If my four stick together, everybody else will fall in.”

Everyone else did fall into place as the Lady Cats served and scored to victory.

“I want everyone to understand that this is a new year, a new team, a new school, a new coach,” Lucas-Nicholas said. “I want to tell people that it is a challenge. And you can’t spell ‘challenge’ without ‘change.’ After practicing this summer, these are the girls that survived. I picked 50 and we are down to 28. I know these are the girls that I’m going to win with.”

The team’s objective is that of any girls’ high school volleyball team.

“My goal is to get the girls to the Pontchartrain Center for the first time, to actually give them the experience of what volleyball is really like,” Lucas-Nicholas said.

“We’ve traveled to Florida and different camps, even LSU. We’ve played against the best of the best. They have seen it and now it’s time to put it to work.”

— By Courtney R. Griggs