The Beau Chene High School volleyball team has been busier than any other program in Louisiana.
The Division II No. 10 Gators (24-9), who have played the most matches in the state, claimed a 25-21, 25-20, 25-11 sweep on Thursday at Lafayette Renaissance.
“I walked into a gold mine,” said coach Kristen Sturlese, who is in her first year at the school. “We have seven seniors. I call them ‘the well-oiled machine.’ I didn’t have to do much … just a little refining.”
Among those seniors is Victoria Noel, a dual-sport star in basketball who served the final three points of the third set against the Tigers (11-12) with two aces that closed out the contest.
“The energy, the grit, the hustle,” Noel said of the catalyst for her team. “You just have to go after it.”
The Gators, who keep their rotation fresh by going 12-deep, feature the inside-outside punch of Noel and Sydnie Comeaux.
“Our goal is to make it to the Dome for the first time,” Sturlese said of reaching the state tournament at the Cajundome. “Hopefully we can do that. The girls have had four coaches in four years.
“They just needed someone who cares and wants to fight for them. That’s what I think I’m doing.”
The Gators have two setters in Arden Ridgeway and Isabelle Taylor, who combined for 22 assists. Arden’s twin sister, Edyn, is the libero.
In the third set, Arden served three consecutive aces. Alyssa Devillier (seven digs) is another excellent server for the Gators, who tallied 15 aces, led by Noel’s five.
“I have a really nice back row,” Sturlese said. “They’re really good diggers. I feel like their chemistry is amazing.”
Ryle Spurgeon and Gracie Fontenot finished with five and seven digs. Comeaux had seven kills, with Kylie Lemelle, Journey Gradney and Gabrielle Jones chipping in four, three and two apiece.
Noel led with eight kills and four blocks. Jazmine Duplechain added a block.
“I love it,” Noel said. “Blocking, getting a nice kill, the energy afterwards. It’s amazing. Nothing can equal it.”
Sturlese, who had a daughter play for STM a couple of years ago, had been out of coaching since 2016 when she saw a Facebook post and got in touch with former BCHS coach Thad Dickey, now the athletic director.
“I knew I needed to do something,” she said. “I reached out to Thad. He said, ‘You’re hired on the spot.'”
That has made all the difference in the world to Noel, who could play college basketball or volleyball — or both.
“She is the best coach,” Noel said of Sturlese. “We love her. I wish we would have had her earlier. She’s amazing. All the girls love her.”
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