Just two starters return from state tournament qualifier, Hahnville begins 3-3
This year’s Hahnville volleyball squad lacks the experience of its counterparts of the past few seasons, but it appears to quickly be putting things together.
Hahnville has begun the season with a 7-6 record thus far, including a split in two matches against fellow River Parishes squad Lutcher.
The Tigers reached the state volleyball tournament for the first time in nearly two decades last season. That team was led by senior outside hitter Mariah Mott, who has since moved on to play collegiate volleyball at Southern.
Junior Maci Hollingsworth and senior Jada Moore were big parts of that team’s offensive firepower at the net along with Mott. Those two are the lone starters back and are leading the way for this young Tigers’ squad.
Hahnville head coach Mendi LeBoeuf said she sees a hard-working group that’s making strides each day.
“We’ve been working really hard all summer and moving into the season … I think we’re getting better every time we get out there,” LeBoeuf said.
Hollingsworth’s athleticism and explosiveness has been apparent since she first took the court at Hahnville. LeBoeuf said the junior is now getting the chance to take on a greater leadership role.
“And I think she’s going to step up for us and do just that,” LeBoeuf said. “She’s doing a great job for us, playing all six rotations. She’s super-duper athletic and fundamentally, she’s sound. I think she continues to grow and she’s able to hit a variety of shots. I just think she’s grown in experience and in her volleyball IQ, and she can do a lot for us on the court.”
Moore plays the middle for Hahnville and has established herself as a presence at the net both offensively and defensively.
She’s also a very effective leader, LeBoeuf said.
“She does a very good job keeping our team active and communicating,” LeBoeuf said. “She’s been a vocal leader for us.”
Among new starters, senior Cambri Garcia is the Tigers’ libero. Freshman Abigail Hotard plays the opposite side of Hollingsworth as outside hitter.
“(Hotard) is fearless. She’ll go out there and swing,” LeBoeuf said.
Though she’s a freshman, Abigail already has chemistry with one of her setters – her twin sister Sophia.
“Those two have definitely played together for a long time,” LeBoeuf said. “I think as they’re acclimating to playing varsity (as freshmen) it helps that they have one another on the court.”
Senior Addison Orgeron starts as another setter for the Tigers.
LeBoeuf said as a whole, she’s seen a lot of progress from game one. The biggest jump has been in the serve-receive area, she noted.
“We just have so many new parts, it takes awhile to get into the flow. But we’ve seen our serve-receive numbers grow every match we’ve played in, and we knew that would be something we really needed to focus on to get some consistency on offense. It’s been a positive,” LeBoeuf said.
In Hahnville’s recent 23-25, 25-21,15-11 win over Live Oak, Hollingsworth notched nine kills and nine digs and Abigail Hotard made five kills and served four aces.
In the Tigers’ victory over St. Martinville, Moore and Hollingsworth each finished with eight kills while Sophia Hotard served four aces.
