ESA senior Sarah Pierre helped lead the Lady Falcons to the quarterfinals of the volleyball state tournament in Kenner

If you talked at length with volleyball coaches in District V-2 which had local teams Highland Baptist, Delcambre and ESA, there were certain players who absolutely just stood out.

Some players were from the other two teams in the district, Ascension Episcopal and Lafayette Christian, a couple from Delcambre and Highland Baptist were also in the mix.

But the majority of the coaches saved high praise for one player in particular – ESA senior Sarah Pierre.

Some marveled at her power, others at her finesse. Even her own coach, Ursula Quoyeser, had nothing but praise for her senior outside hitter.

“She is outstanding,” said the former ESA head volleyball coach, who returned this year to the Cade school after 10 years away. “She can just dominate a game from the beginning whether its her hitting or her defense. She’s just that one special player you need to be very successful.”

The numbers that Pierre put up this year bear that out. 

She had 192 kills, 327 digs, 25 blocks and 45 aces for ESA as she helped lead the team to the Division V quarterfinals at the state tournament in Kenner.

For her efforts in helping led ESA to a second place finish in district and the state tournament, Pierre is named the Most Valuable Player in The Daily Iberian’s annual Best of the Teche Volleyball team for the 2015 season.

The Best of the Teche is selected by the sports staff of The Daily Iberian newspaper upon the recommendations of the coaches from the volleyball playing schools in the Teche Area.

A person can only be considered for the team if nominated by her coach.

Joining Pierre on the first team this year is two other players from what some consider the toughest volleyball district in the state as all five teams made the playoffs.

Highland Baptist junior middle hitter Hailey Dupre and Delcambre’s Jordan LeBlanc were also first team selections.

Dupre was a first team All-District selection who finished with 248 kills, 53 blocks, 45 digs and 62 aces.

“She was instrumental in our offense and was our go to hitter when she was on the front row and gave us keey points with her tough serve,” said HBCS coach Brigette Boudreaux.

LeBlanc finished the season with 138 kills, 51 blocks, 43 aces and 19 assists to go with 35 digs.

“She was an all-around player for us,” said Delcambre coach Lisa Richard. “A lot of what we did went through her and she consistantly delivered for us.”

Also on first team was Catholic High’s sophomore libero, or defensive specialist, Kenzie Hoffpauir, who finished the year with 417 digs, 28 kills and 26 aces.

“She just has an amazing work ethic,” said first-year CHS coach Kim Lehmann. “This is her second year as a varsity starter and she just brings a positive attitude and a coachable acumen to the team.

“She as a key player in our defense and also on offense hitting from the back row.”

St. Martinville Senior High’s Raina Mason was a first team All-District III-4 selection who finished with 48 kills, 105 assists and 207 digs for the Lady Tigers as a junior this season.

“Raina has been first team All-District for the past two seasons and she made All- Tournament team at the Broadmoor Tournament this year,” said SMSH coach Lucinda Mason. “She has been the strength of our defense after moving from setter and hitting to the libero spot. She helped the team make the second round of the playoffs this year.”

Finally, West St. Mary senior Jakyrin Connor was a first team All-District IV-2 selection and had 10 aces, 35 kills and 10 blocks during the Lady Wolfpack’s district season.

And for her efforts in taking the Lady Falcons to the state tournament in her first year in her second stint as head volleyball coach, ESA’s Ursula Quoyeser is named Coach of the Year for The Best of the Teche.

Second team selections for the 2015 season are ESA’s Nanine Cowan and Sami Spoon; SMSH’s Malana Dalcourt; Highland Baptist’s Taylore Louviere and Jenna Louviere and Franklin’s Kaira Butler.

“Taylor came in as a freshman into a new position as middle and did a great job at the net,” said Boudreaux. She also tag-teamed with Hailey as the setter, feeding her the ball for the kill.”

“Malana was MVP last year and was second-team All-District this year,” said Mason. 

“She helped us get to the playoffs by running a 5-1 offensive system as the setter.”

Honorable Mention selections to the team are Isabel Gilfoil, Hallie Williams, Victoria Kinsland  and Mary Catherine Louis from ESA; Aisha Ortiz, Ashely Malloy and Samantha Frederick; Westgate’s Precious Jones and Kamryn Fontenot; Highland Baptist’s Allison Elrod, Jenna Louviere, Peyton Poirier and Allison Sprague; Nicole Bouillion and Kacie McDonald from Delcambre and New Iberia Senior High’s Alexis Olivier, Swandeisha Gardner and Kaysha Pradia.