RESERVE — The Pontchartrain Center in Kenner is a lot closer to St. John the Baptist Parish than the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

But the former has been a lot harder for local teams to get to than the latter.

The Pontchartrain Center is where the annual Louisiana High School Athletic Association State Volleyball Tournament is played and where on one Saturday in November, five state champions are crowned each year.

None of those trophies have ever gone to a St. John Parish team and sometimes just getting there has been tough.

Still, getting there is the goal of every team that puts up a net in the fall.

Riverside Academy and St. Charles Catholic have represented St. John several times.

The East St. John High Lady Wildcats made it once.

West St. John High is still working on it.

But all four teams will tip-off their seasons next week with high hopes and dreams of hoisting a trophy on that November day.

The Riverside Academy Lady Rebels are coming off one of the most successful seasons in their history.

After a 28-1 start, the team finished 39-6 overall and went through its district schedule undefeated.

The Rebels earned the No. 3 seed in the Division IV playoff bracket and got to the Pontchartrain Center for the second consecutive year.

But a heartbreaking loss to No. 6 seed Academy of the Sacred Heart ended the Rebels’ run in the quarterfinals.

Riverside suffered a few more losses in the off season — most notably their coach, Margot Frederick, who moved out of state.

Longtime club coach Brand Melancon has been handed the reins, as well as a roster full of talent.

“I know I’m blessed,” Melancon said. “I’m luckier than most coaches with the talent we have.”

Only two players graduated from last year’s squad while six seniors returned. Among those is two-time defending St. John Parish Player of the Year Sydney Joseph, a middle blocker/outside hitter who finished with 615 kills, 247 digs and 113 aces.

That was up from 399 kills as a sophomore.

Joining Joseph are returning seniors and All-St. John selections Briley Becker and Abby Bourgeois. Haley Madere has moved to the libero position.

Melancon said basketball players Jennifer LeGeaux and Dannecia Nora have joined the team.

“We’re real excited about that,” Melancon said.

St. Charles Catholic coach Meg Ericksen missed her team’s last game last season after giving birth to her first child, and she is ready to get the team back in action — even if they don’t have a gym.

The Lady Comets have been forced to relocate to Regala Gym for their practices and home games while the St. Charles gym (and the entire school) undergoes extensive renovations.

“We don’t have a floor,” Ericksen said. “The girls are afraid no one will come to their games.”

The Comets finished 17-19 last season and earned the No. 17 seed in the Division IV bracket. They lost their only post-season match to No. 1 seed and eventual state champion Pope John Paul II.

Returning for their senior seasons are Jori Bryant, Grace Mohon and Pylar Zeringue.

East St. John had a tough 2016 season, losing its head coach just before the start, then struggling to finish with a pair of late season wins.

The Lady Wildcats are in rebuilding mode with new head coach Halle Gayten.

“For the most part, most of them already knew the game so it wasn’t what I expected,” Gayten said. “I expected to come in an start from scratch. But they all knew the game.”

Gayten said she isn’t lowering expectations at all with eight seniors returning.

One of those is Chardae Berthelot, who led the team in kills and blocks last season.

She also has two juniors and a dozen sophomores, most of whom got to see playing time last year.

“We want to at least make it to the Pontchartrain Center,” Gayten said. “I know they’re good enough to do it, if not win state. They’re good enough to win state. They’re really good.”

West St. John High, which played a limited schedule last season, also has a new head coach in Tahajenik Melancon.

The Lady Rams return 2016 All-St. John selection Amiya Lumar.