MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / Febuary 3, 1999

RESERVE – When Reserve Christian coach Mike Marix speaks about Ashley Holmes, one word comes to his mind – excellence.

“I think of excellence when I think of her,” Holmes said. “Spiritually,athletically, academically. Athletically, she has a lot of talent and doesn’twaste that talent. She does the most with it. Academically, she has a 4.0grade point average. She works hard at it and reaps the benefit of it. Iwouldn’t have a problem with any of the younger girls looking up to her as a role model.”Holmes has excelled both on and off the field during her prep career at Reserve Christian. She has played four sports with the Lady Eagles,playing four years in both volleyball and softball. She also played one yearof basketball and three years of cheerleading.

This past volleyball season, she helped lead the Lady Eagles to the state playoffs as well as the district championship in their first season in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.

“I never doubted we could do that,” Holmes said. “We had all been playingtogether in all sports for a while. With the players coming up, I believethey can do it again next year and get further in state. I wish I could bethere.”Holmes was named to the All-River Parishes team after finishing the season with 225 kills, 70 blocks, 101 digs and 21 aces. She was alsonamed to the River Parishes team in 1997 after leading the Lady Eagles to the state championship in the Louisiana Christian Schools Athletic Association.

Holmes said her family got her started in sports at a young age. Becausethere were few girls in the neighborhood where she grew up to play with, Holmes played sports with her six brothers and their friends. She beganplaying softball at NOAH playground and played the sport at Reserve Christian in the sixth grade.

From softball, Holmes started playing volleyball at the school and said a variety of influences have helped her get better over the years. Lutchercoach Denise Riley held a volleyball clinic at the school last year and Holmes said she has had a lot of good coaches help her out during her prep career. She also plays with friends at Shannon’s Health Club.”I have had good influences all around,” Holmes said.

While improving on the court, Holmes was excelling in the classroom. Thesenior was recently among 18 players from around the state named to the LHSAA Acade-mic All-State Composite Volleyball team. The compositesquad was selected from players who scored the highest in their respective sport and division.

“I was excited, surprised,” Holmes said of receiving the honor. “It is agreat honor.”In addition to playing athletics, Holmes is also vice president of the Beta Club and is in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Champions for Christ. She also works part time at Sicily’s Pizza. So how does she findtime to maintain a 4.0 GPA? “It’s hard,” Holmes said. “I try to divide my time up as much as possibleand work it into my schedule.”Holmes’ grades have colleges looking at her academically as well as athletically. LSU has talked to her about walking onto the volleyball team.She has looked at both LSU and Xavier strongly but has not decided what college to go to yet.

For now, Holmes is preparing for the softball season where she will play first base for the Lady Eagles. She is also preparing to go to Amsterdam ona mission trip in April. The group going on the trip is holding a car washthis Saturday at the McDonald’s on Airline to help defer the cost of the trip. The car wash is free but the group is asking for donations. Donationsmay also be sent to the school.

Holmes is also active with the church’s youth groups. She said all theglory for the team’s and her accomplishments go to God.

“Whenever we had strife or dissension on the team we prayed to Him,” Holmes said. “We had weekly devotions as a team and they helped bring ustogether.” As for advice she would give to other high school athletes and students, Holmes said she would tell them to put God first and academics second.

“Don’t let your grades slip,” Holmes said. “Try to do as much as you can.Be an all-around person.”

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