Experienced Berwick squad to take the court this year

Berwick High volleyball coach Heather Templet said she has an experienced and battle-tested squad this season
Now, she said, it’s simply a matter of filling some pieces, combined with a mix of senior leadership, as the team works towards advancing to Louisiana volleyball’s mecca at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner for the state tournament.
“This is my fourth year. I’ve been with this class from the time that they were freshmen,” Templet said of her seniors. “We’ve been so close in the past that maybe they can be the one’s that are going to push through and get that experience.”
Berwick will be led by five seniors: Emma Hover, Jordan Lipari, Rosalyn Gros, Mary Jordan Melancon and Sydney Aucoin.
The Lady Panthers, however, will have to replace the contributions of first-team All-District middle hitter/setter Ashton Morales and right outside hitter Madeleine Hover, who both graduated a year ago.
“Losing those seniors, it’s a big hit, but the returning seniors are going to pick up the slack there,” Templet said. “All of the seniors have played varsity for at least three years, so they’re very experienced on that aspect. (I) return a couple of juniors, and we have some sophomores that are going to step in there to fill the void. One of the sophomores (Alyssa Gray) played full time last year, so we’re really looking for better things this year.”
Last year’s Division III first-round upset loss at home to Lusher Charter in straight sets for Berwick, which finished 2015 with a 14-19 mark, also has fueled the team in the offseason.
“It was a bad taste,” Templet said. “It really left them disappointed and frustrated, and that kind of led to the work that was done in the offseason.”
Templet said this year’s team’s strength will be its defense, which returns from a year ago.
“Our back row this year is probably the most solid that I’ve ever had as we return Rosalyn Gros and Emma Hover to that back middle spot, and then our junior libero is going to be Brittany Roberie.”
Other returning starters include Melancon at setter, Aucoin, who has played middle hitter often but will play middle and outside hitter this year and Lipari, who returns to the outside hitter position where she has experience. Aucoin was a second-team all-district middle hitter a year ago.
As for the team’s schedule, Berwick will participate in varsity tournaments hosted by Assumption (Sept. 1 and 3), Morgan City (Sept. 15 and 17), Vandebilt Catholic (Oct. 14 and 15) and Episcopal School of Acadiana’s prestigious Spooktacular Tournament (Oct. 27-29).
“That Spooktacular Tournament is one of the one’s that’s got a lot of history with volleyball,” Templet said. “It’s got a lot of teams that are going in there. We’ve been trying to get in it the last few years, and we finally get our opportunity, so hopefully we have a good showing.”
Other highlights of Berwick’s nondistrict schedule include a Sept. 20 contest at home against Assumption, a Division II semifinalist a year ago; and an Oct. 25 contest with Houma Christian, a Division V quarterfinalist in 2015. The Houma Christian contest will serve as Berwick’s Senior Night.
In district, Berwick will face Morgan City, Vandebilt Catholic, E.D. White and Franklin. Vandebilt Catholic was a Division III quarterfinalist a year ago, while E.D. White advanced to the Division III semifinals in 2015.
“District’s the same as it has been the last couple years,” Templet said. “You’re looking at E.D. White, who graduated a bunch, but they will probably still be solid, and Vandebilt, they really did not graduate many. I think they graduated four or five, but their biggest hitter’s only going to be a sophomore or junior, and then you got Morgan City, who only graduated a couple.”
Berwick will participate in the Morgan City Jamboree Thursday where it will face Patterson in junior varsity (3:30 p.m.) and varsity (4 p.m.), Highland Baptist in junior varsity (5:30 p.m.) and varsity (6 p.m.) and West St. Mary in junior varsity (6:30 p.m.) and varsity (7 p.m.).