NISH pushes Catholic High to limit

Published 2:00 pm Tuesday, August 30, 2011

For Catholic High, it was a successful opening as they begin the quest to defend their state volleyball championship.

For New Iberia Senior High, a young team took a state champion to the limit and gained valuable experience for later in the season.

Both CHS coach Jessica Frederick and NISH coach Ron Hebert were pleased but also saw things their teams need to work on during the Lady Panthers’ 3-1 win over the Lady Jackets in the season opener for both teams Monday at New Iberia Senior High.

“NISH played a heck of a game,” said Frederick, whose team won 25-17, 26-24, 13-25, 25-23. “They were ready to play us, which I knew they would be. We have that target on our backs, so we have to play up all the time, no matter who we’re playing.”

The difference, according to Hebert, was the play of CHS senior Taylor Lahasky, who stepped up in the first two games and in the last game when the Lady Panthers were on the brink on being stunned in the season opener.

“There is a reason she won the MVP last year (in the state tournament),” said Hebert. “She took over and she wasn’t going to let Catholic High lose.”

Lahasky had 15 kills in the game and her twin sister Sydney Lahasky added 22 assists, 28 digs and a kill for the Lady Panthers.

But while the Lady Jackets lost the match, Hebert was pleased with some of what he saw in the contest, especially the way NISH dominated the third game.

“We came out slow as usual and they capitalized on the first two,” said Hebert. “My closing statement to the team after the second game was that this was very familiar. In the state championship match, Catholic High was down 2-0 to Sacred Heart and came back and won it. Now it was their turn to do that.”

Hebert also said NISH was able to take advantage of some Catholic High mistakes in the third game and the Lady Panthers fell too far behind (CHS trailed 20-8 at one point) to make up the difference 

Lady Jackets came out in the final game and again built a lead but the Lady Panthers, behind Taylor Lahasky’s hitting and Sydney Lahasky’s assists, rallied for the win.

“We have to play every single point in every single game,” said Frederick. “In the third game we had a lot of unforced errors. We just had to start capitalizing on their mistakes and playing the ball better.”

In the final game, Frederick said her team had some communication problems but managed to pull out the win.

“Once everyone gets on the same page, we’ll be okay,” said Frederick, who was missing the services of two players, Melissa Pesson and Molly Germany, who were out with various ailments. 

The CHS coach said it was the type of game Catholic High needed to open the season to show that teams are going to come after them.

For Hebert, it was also the type of game that the Lady Jackets needed.

“We’re showing growth and improvement every time,” said Hebert. “I have three seniors and am relying heavily on my sophomore class. They’re getting valuable experience every time they play.”

Melissa Derouen had six kills while Katie Coquat and Chyna Brooks each had five kills for NISH. Katie McFarland had 20 assists and Brooks added three blocks.

NISH plays host to St. Martinville today. Catholic High plays host to Sam Houston today.