By ROBERT L. LEE

LUTCHER – When it comes time for River Parish high school volleyball teams to face off against their Baton Rouge and New Orleans counterparts for a district match or a tournament title, they have been simply outplayed.

Largely, when stacked against the other teams, it’s the players’ lack of experience which allows the downfall, not amount of talent absorbed by the players from their coaches.

While girls from Baton Rouge, New Orleans and nearby states count volleyball as a top priority, often taking to the court after first and second grade classes are done, girls in this area are much more likely to take their ready stance as freshmen in high school.

Riverside and Lutcher coaches Toni Miano and Rickey LeBlanc are working to fill that void. Pushing through their second year of club volleyball in the River Parishes, Miano and LeBlanc trying to not only bring the players talent and experience levels up, but straighten the public’s idea of volleyball.

“The average public thinks we just bounce the ball over the net, that’s the biggest misconception,” explained Miano. She and LeBlanc related volleyball to common sports such as softball and football.

“Serving is like pitching,” said Miano, “and running the plays and combinations is just like football.”

They said players have to read the ball correctly for offense and defense, while the coaches decide which player to substitute or who works best in a specific position.

Although a weak impression of volleyball may be blanketing the tri-parish area, Miano and LeBlanc said the 40 players and three teams they have this year and last year proves the club is off to a strong start. The numbers take on a new meaning, considering most other clubs begin with only one group.

“But we are still taking baby steps,” said Miano. “Right now some other clubs have hundreds of girls, all playing club ball since five and six years old.”

Both coaches and players admitted when they held tryouts for their school and talked to coaches from other schools, some of the players did not even know basic stances on the court. After the 40 girls returned to the various teams from last year’s volleyball club, coaches called in commending the club and committing to sending more players. LeBlanc said the coaches are sending over their players because of the other girls’ boost in performance.

“We don’t turn anybody away,” continued Miano. She said there are about 10 girls participating now who only want to come out and practice with the team and have the chance to gain the knowledge and experience. These girls only have to pay the $35 to register and get to practice with all of the girls for the four months.

“I’ve got some players’ parents who ask where their kids can go to get more experience, because there are no other programs available around here,” said Miano. Aside from learning more valuable techniques on the court, the players are also forming new bonds off the court. Players from teams across the area interact and said one of the things they enjoy the most of the club is their new friendships.

“I’ve learned too much, transitions, different serves and how to control my bumping techniques on offense and defense,” explained student Cassie Martin.

“With what I’ve learned, I am proud to be on this team. I also learned what I’ll be up against next year in high school.” Martin and her other volleyball friends also agreed they are always eager to go to practice and play on the higher club level.

“That’s what we hoped for,” said Miano. “The girls really enjoy coming and by the time the younger girls reach high school, they will know what the coaches will expect from them. Sometimes they even know more techniques than their coaches, especially in junior high.”

Lutcher junior Rhyshelle Lemar said her hitting approach has really improved since playing in the club last year and again this year. “I thought more girls from our team would have come out to play here, so we could have a better season next year. I know it would help,” said Lemar.

Students Jenna St. Amant and Nicole Poirrier completed each others’ sentences as they commented about how much they’ve learned.

“It helps you learn more when you play with new players, because everybody knows how to do something different,” added St. Amant. “Even if it’s the same thing, you learn how to do it in a different way which may be better for you.”

Destrehan’s Atina Porter agreed, and said some of the girls from the LadyCats’ biggest rivals are now some of her best friends. “I love playing with them and I love the competition from the other teams. It’s a higher level here and there’s no end, like when we played the Puerto Rican team,” said Porter.

Like most of the players in the Baton Rouge and Texas clubs, Porter is looking for her experience with the River Parish volleyball club to help her chances at a college scholarship. So far, she and three other girls participating with the club have gotten attention from LSU and Northwestern scouts.

Miano said when the team travels to tournaments like the one in Disneyworld, there are hundreds of college scouts waiting to sign almost any girl who shows promise with the club and has not been signed yet by another school.

“My two daughters have made friends with girls from almost all of the other schools,” said a chaperon for the team, Gina Martin. “I have seen a definite change in how well they play and they love it. They are so advanced now from the drills they learn and they stay in shape. As long as they have the club, I will keep sending my girls to it.”

Martin and other parents said their girls come home and say they learned more in two hours of practice than they have in almost two years of regular play.