The Hahnville Lady Tigers entered this season with something to prove, and people are starting to take notice.After falling short of reaching the postseason last year, the silver lining for the Hahnville volleyball squad was it was bringing its full team back for 2016, with no graduating senior starters from the 2015 team.
Now, a senior-laden squad is off to a 20-9 start to the season.including wins in their first four district games, including two major victories over H.L. Bourgeois, the defending champions of the district.
Indeed, the Tigers are riding high.
“I think having the same team come back from last year, a lot closer both on and off the court,” said Hahnville’s leading hitter Kylie Roux. “And just the trust and the friendship that’s there and that we’be been able to build over past few years, it’s really helped us on the floor.”
Hahnville coach Mendi LeBoeuf said she sees a more confident, driven team working toward a common goal.
“To go out there against one of the better teams in district play and win, definitely, has all of us excited,” said LeBoeuf. “I think what we’ve talked about all year, focusing on our process, staying on every single point and focusing on what we’re trying to do, it takes a little pressure off, especially in situations where we’re trailing or late in games. Nobody lets it get too big for them.”
Ellie Bergeron, the Tigers’ setter, said the Tigers know each other extremely well.
“It’s really rewarding, because we have worked so hard on and off the court,” she said. “Having everyone back, we know our strengths and weaknesses and we’re able to emphasize our strengths and go from there. Being able to win as much as we have and just grow as a team, really we’re able to go home and lay our head down at night and do everything we can.”
LeBoeuf said the team’s first win over H.L. Bourgeois at Hahnville was a major momentum builder.
“That was a big win for us and it’ll only breed confidence going forward,” said LeBoeuf. “We have a lot of seniors. Last year, we fell a little short and I think they came into this season ready to succeed and with something to prove. I think we’re more confident in what we’re capable of. When we’re playing well, you can really see that. ”
That victory came by scores of 27-25, 14-25, 25-19 and 25-19.
Ellie Bergeron had 42 assists and eight digs. Roux had 26 kills, 12 digs and served three aces. Stephanie Oubre had 15 kills and served five aces to go with eight kids. Gabby Constant made 22 digs. Alli Plaisance made eight digs.
Bergeron said she and her teammates were fired up for the game.
“We had a lot of grudges from last year,” she said. “They took both of those games away from us.
“We went in with a lot of high energy and put that toward what we’ve been working on in practice.”
The Tigers earned another win over Bourgeois Tuesday, this one on the road, 25-20, 19-25, 25-20 and 25-22.
Roux made 30 kills and served five aces while Oubre added 12 kills and four aces. Bergeron made 43 assists. Five different Tigers made 12 digs or more, including Oubre (16), Bergeron (12), Constant (11), Roux (10) and Plaisance (10).
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