Lady Bobcats make volleyball history

Image
Body

Eunice head coach Wayne Fontenot’s fortune cookie’s message at lunch was “your hard work will pay off.
Now after six years of volleyball competition, the Lady Bobcats made program history as Eunice High earned a berth in the 2020 LHSAA playoffs.
“Nobody expected us to a have a winning season or make the playoffs,” Fontenot said. “This all about respect – we want to see a winning tradition start in volleyball.”
“The kids put in the work from the beginning of the season,” Fontenot said. “We were behind with tryouts and practices because of COVID,” he said. “We started the season with just two weeks of practice.”
Eunice opened the season with 3-2 with wins over Westgate, St. Edmund and Jennings before three of the next four games were cancelled because of Hurricane Laura.
The Lady Cats grabbed a victory over Crowley and repeat win over Westgate to improve to 5-4 overall.
Eunice earned a win over Northside before dropping a district double header to Iowa.
The Lady Cats swept Alexandria before the final five games were cancelled.
It is the first time, the Lady Cats finished with a winning record at 8-5 overall with nine games cancelled because of hurricanes and the coronavirus.
“It was great to see us set the record for program wins this season,” Fontenot said. “If we didn’t see those games removed because of COVID and the hurricanes, we should have had around 15 wins and it might have worked out that we could have had a home game in the playoffs.”
Fontenot said the team played well together which helped reach the playoffs for the first time.
“The chemistry aspect for this team has been big this season,” Fontenot said. “This is the third year some of these girls have been playing with me and they fit the system.
“When I took over 3 1/2 years ago I inherited the team that was there and the habits that they had,” the coach said. “But these kids have been molded by me.”
Fontenot credited the addition of assistant coach Tre’ Brown.
“He does a very good job of helping the kids and running drills,” Fontenot said. “He helps make the program run.”
Senior Isabella Brown has been a part of the Lady Cat program since Fontenot took over as head coach.
“She is the eptiome of what a team player is,” Fontenot said. “Not being a starter but a senior role player – you never hear any negativity from her or hear her whine.
“When she goes in, she does whatever job she is asked to do,” Fontenot said. “She is what you want as a program player.
“She has gotten better each year and she is definitely an asset to our team.”
Brown said she is thrilled to see what the team accomplished this season in spite of all the challenges.
“It was really sad that I did not get my official senior night,” she said. “But it was more important to me that we got to play in the playoffs than me having a senior night.”
Brown spent most of the season coming off the bench, but her skills helped the team when she was on the court.
“I had never played volleyball in my life before my freshman year,” she said.
“I am very hard-working so anything I do, I strive to be the best I can be,” the senior said. “I wasn’t anywhere as good back then as I am now.
“But with the help of coach and my teammates I am able to be where I am today.”
Brown said she will always remember this season because of COVID-19 and the storms that disrupted their season.
“Every practice and every game I spent with the girls will be memorable,” she said.
Brown said as a senior, she wanted to help the team reach its goals.
“I wanted to keep the team level headed during the games,” she said. “I gave advice when they needed it and want them to stay focused.”
No. 19 Eunice traveled to No. 14 Brusly Wednesday for the bi-district round of the Division III playoffs.
The Lady Panthers advanced to the regional round with a 3-0 win over Eunice.
Brusly won 25-16, 25-9 and 25-18.
Sophie Vidrine finished with 16 digs and 14 assists for the Lady Cats.
Gabbie Mitchell finished with 8 kills, while Rylea Gradney added 2 kills and 4 aces.
Allison Freeman and Madison Freeman both had two blocks and 2 kills.
Saige Freeman added a kill for the Lady Cats.
In other Division III playoff games, No. 8 Iota grabbed a 3-1 win over No. 25 Crowley.
The Lady Bulldogs opened with a 27-25 win, but Crowley answered with a 26-24 victory.
Iota then won 25-9 and 15-13 to advance to the regional round against No. 9 Pearl River.
No. 15 Church Point earned a 3-1 win over No. 18 West Feliciana.
The Lady Bears lost 31-29 in the first match, but then won 25-20, 25-12 and 27-25 to advance to the regional round against No. 2 St. Micheal.