Patterson volleyball could be 'great' in 2015

Coming off a season in which they advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2008, the Patterson Lumberjills volleyball team enters the 2015 season with high hopes.
Last year’s squad, which fell to North Vermilion in three games on the road in the first round of the Division III postseason, made the school’s first playoff appearance since 2008.
While the Lumberjills lost four seniors from that squad in Jazmin Evans, Jasmine Roberson, Nyria Robinson and Tye Williams, the team does return several key contributors.
“We have a chance to be great this year,” head coach Chasity Toups said. “Being a great team isn’t something that gets handed to anyone. It takes hard work and dedication.”
Additionally, Patterson will be moving down from Division III to Division IV this season.
While Patterson had success a year ago, Toups said she doesn’t want her team to think that things will be handed to them this year.
“We have to work harder than ever before,” she said.
Although the team will be playing in a smaller division than 2014, Toups said that it is irrelevant to how the team practices and performs.
“I want to be the absolute best that we can be as a team,” she said. “It has nothing to do with who we play, it matters how we play.”
Among the key pieces returning from last season’s squad, which finished 16-12, are middle hitter Gaylen Grogan, setter Nia Broussard, middle hitter Arian Grogan and outside hitter Makayla Ruiz.
Grogan was a first-team All-District 6-III selection in 2014.
The Lumberjills’ schedule features tournaments at Brusly (Sept. 10, 12), Morgan City (Sept. 17, 19) and Highland Baptist (Oct. 10).
In district, Patterson will compete in District 2-IV with Catholic High-New Iberia, Notre Dame, David Thibodaux and West St. Mary.
Three of the district’s four teams made the postseason a year ago in Catholic High-New Iberia, Notre Dame and West St. Mary.
While they were upset in the second round of the postseason in 2014, Notre Dame has been a powerhouse in Division IV and before that, Division III.
Although they won’t be competing in district with them anymore, the Lumberjills will face Berwick twice during the season (Sept. 15 and Oct. 29) and Morgan City once (Oct. 19).
Members of the 2015 Patterson volleyball team include Tamia Washington, Arian Grogan, Casie Boudreaux, Gaylen Grogan, Broussard, Madison Goolsby, Josie Merida, Shea Fontenot, Ashlynn Rock, Kaitlyn Larson, Tapanga Haven, Ruiz, Kasie Giandelone, Madison Paul, Kiora Grady, Erykah Singleton, Kaitlynn Spradling, Morgan Jones and Kara Lawrence.
Patterson will compete in the Morgan City High School Jamboree Thursday before opening its season Sept. 1 at Franklin.