MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / December 29, 1999

LAPLACE – River Parishes volleyball teams had another successful season on the court.

St. Charles Catholic, behind River Parishes MVP Nicole Scontrino, won itsthird straight district title and advanced to the state semifinals for the third straight season.

Coach of the Year Calvin Ike led Destrehan to its first district title and playoff appearance since the early 1990s.

Riverside won its first district title and advanced to the state tournament for the third straight season.

Hahnville made its fifth straight appearance at the Pontchartrain Center and advanced to the regionals for a second year in a row.

Reserve Christian also made history, advancing to its second straight state tournament and getting its first ever playoff win in the LHSAA.

Along the way, the Lady Eagles also defeated their first Division I opponent.

Nicole Scontrino St. Charles Catholic SeniorMost Valuable Player

When St. Charles Catholic stepped up to Class 3A this season, the LadyComets knew they would have to also step up if they wanted to keep their streak of appearances in the semifinals intact. They did just that, addingan appearance in the Class 3A semifinals in 1999 to the consecutive appearances they had made in Class 2A in 1997-98.

One of those players stepping up was Scontrino who led the Lady Comets both on and off the court this year.

“She was very enjoyable to work with,” St. Charles Catholic coachMichelle Dearmitt said. “She got us going, offensively and defensively. Shewas a big help to us this year.”Scontrino had 162 kills for the Lady Comets in 1999. She also had 45 aces,94 digs, 11 solo blocks, six block assists and five assists in being named the District 6-III MVP.

St. Charles Catholic opened the playoffs against Iowa where Scontrinohelped the Lady Comets take a three-set victory with a team-high four aces and 12 kills. She followed that with 14 digs and five kills againstPatterson in the quarterfinals. She finished her prep career with two digsand four kills against Parkview Baptist in the semifinals.

“I thought we had a great season,” Scontrino said. “We didn’t know howgood we were going to be. But everybody stepped up their games and helpedus to a great season. It was one of the best times I’ve had in all four yearson the volleyball team.”

Calvin Ike Destrehan Coach of the Year

Destrehan had come close to the state volleyball tournament before, falling just short the last two seasons. In 1999, the Lady Cats got overthat hump, thanks to Coach Ike.

Destrehan finished the regular season with a 17-11 record and won the District 9-I title with a 4-0 mark. The title advanced the Lady Cats to thestate volleyball tournament for the first time since the early 1990s.

Getting to the playoffs is one thing. Advancing, especially for a team beingthere for the first time, is much harder.

But the Lady Cats looked like it was old hat for them in their first game against South Terrebonne. Trailing 7-0 in the third game, Destrehan keptbouncing back, rallying to take a three-game victory and advance to the regionals. The Lady Cats fell to Bonnabel in the next match but nothingcould take away from the fun the team had.

“People came in and were able to develop them,” Ike said after the regular season. “We had some very good players in some key positions and they didtheir job well. And the camaraderie was better than in previous years.”That was a credit to the coaching as well as the players.

Erica Bierman Destrehan Senior

Bierman was truly a player who loved to play the game. That enthusiasmshowed on the court as she helped lead the Lady Cats to their first postseason berth since the early 1990s.

The senior was the team’s floor leader and captain, providing great leadership to the team. She was named to the all-District 9-I first teamafter leading the team with 87 aces, a 94 percent serving percentage and 216 assists to go with 11 kills. Bierman led the way in the Lady Cats’ bi-district victory over South Terrebonne, providing 23 assists.

Kim Bierman Destrehan Junior

Bierman also took the game very seriously and was one of the team’s hardest workers. She was also a first-team all-District 9-I selection atoutside hitter after leading the Lady Cats with 158 kills and a kill percentage of 87 percent.

Bierman also added 63 aces on an 85 percent serving percentage, 17 digs and eight blocks. She had five aces against South Terrebonne in theplayoffs and three kills against Bonnabel.

Cristi Clement St. Charles CatholicSenior

Clement combined with Scontrino to the Lady Comets a dominating one- two punch up front. The senior was a first-team all-District 6-IIIselection after leading the team with 195 kills, 65 solo blocks and 19 assisted blocks.

Clement also had 59 digs and 43 aces. In the playoffs, she had 10 digs andthree blocks against Iowa, 10 kills and six blocks against Patterson and seven kills against Parkview Baptist to lead the lead.

Kimiko Gauthier West St. JohnSenior

Gauthier completed her prep career with a selection to the all-District 6- IV team.

Jennifer Guidry Riverside Senior

Guidry was an all-District 6-IV selection for the second straight season in 1999.

The senior outside hitter overcame a knee injury suffered last basketball season to become the Lady Rebels’ most consistent player.

Candace Keller Lutcher Senior

Keller concluded her career with the Lady Bulldogs with an all-District 6- III second team selection. She finished the season with a team-high 156digs to go with 76 kills and 16 blocks.

Liz Landry Hahnville Junior

Landry helped the Lady Tigers finish second in District 9-I and make the regional playoffs with a 13-16 record.

The all-district first team selection led the team in district play with 31 kills and added seven aces and 12 digs. In the postseason, she led the teamwith 16 kills (eight in each game), four blocks and three aces.

Marci Martin St. Charles CatholicSenior

Martin wasjump starter for the Lady Comets’ offense. The senior led theteam with 259 assists and 49 aces. She also had 64 digs, 75 kills, six soloblocks and seven block assists.

Martin was named to the all-District 6-III first team after helping the Lady Comets win their third straight title. In the postseason, she had 29assists, including 15 against Iowa, three aces, 12 kills and 18 digs.

Keondra Robertson Lutcher Senior

Robertson was a first team all-District 6-III selection in 1999 after leading the Lady Bulldogs to a 17-11 record.

The senior led the team with 89 kills and 72 blocks while adding 63 digs.

Amber Schlesinger Reserve Christian Sophomore

Schlesinger was one of the Lady Eagles’ go-to hitters in a historical season that saw the team defeat its first Class 5A opponent and win its first playoff game.

Schlesinger led the team with 128 kills (5.1 per game) and with 36 blocks(1.6 per game). Schlesinger was also second on the squad with 34 aces andhad an 81 percent serving percentage.

In the postseason, she had four kills and three blocks against Hosanna in bi-district and two kills against White Castle in the regionals.

Jennifer Smith Riverside Senior

Smith was named the MVP of District 6-IV after leading the Lady Rebels to their first district title. A quick, strong player at the net, Smith wasalso the Lady Rebels’ best backrow player.

In the Lady Rebels’ bi-district game against Episcopal (BR), Smith led the team with six blocks, 10 digs and eight kills.

Danielle Washington East St. JohnSophomore

Washington was one of the young players that will make the Lady Cats a factor in the coming years. The sophomore was named to the District 9-Ifirst team at setter and was recently selected as the Lady Cats’ top offensive players.

Jackie Witmer Hahnville Senior

Witmer was named the District 9-I MVP after helping the Lady Tigers make the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

The senior outside hitter led the team in district play with 15 aces and 24 digs and added 21 kills.

In the playoffs, she helped the Lady Tigers advance to the regionals for the second straight season.

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