Photograph: Olivia Cunningham, Raymond Beauxis, Cynthia Cunningham, Abigail Cunningham, Rachel Cunningham, and Michael Cunningham. (Photograph by Bobby Ardoin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Abigail Cunningham had already experienced a major athletic career moment in November when she signed a letter of intent to play volleyball with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Then last week it was time for her to orchestrate a celebration.
Cunningham, an outside hitter who set a Westminster Christian Academy school record for kills, commemorated the next step in her volleyball career with a signing party in the school gymnasium that included her family, the Westminster coaching staff and several of her WCA team members.
“I know that I signed already and that made it official, but this is more of an occasion where I can celebrate with the rest of the school, my family and friends,” said Cunningham, who plans to join the Louisiana volleyball program for their summer workouts.
Although her high school career ended with the Crusaders reaching the Division V championship game, Cunningham said that she hasn’t forgotten about a sustained commitment to volleyball since the high school playoffs and signing with the Cajuns.
“I’ve been working out, keeping up a schedule. I am doing my own workouts. The coaches (at Louisiana) said to go ahead and do what I want to do. I took a break after the season and now I’m back at it, going hard (at WCA) with the weights and doing what I have to do. I am also getting workouts with my club coach,” said Cunningham.
There were other scholarship offers available Cunningham said, but she liked the Louisiana program, since it’s close to her home in the Carencro area.
“I was also familiar with what they are doing (at Louisiana). I have been to a couple of their volleyball camps and I’ve watched them play. I really knew a lot about their program before I signed,” she said.
Before and after her signing, Cunningham said that she met with players on the current team roster and likes the overall aggressive style.
“I think I will be able to fit in as an outside hitter. They are pretty much of a power team and they seem to have a lot of fun when they are on the court,” Cunningham said.
WCA head volleyball coach Keith Leon said several other members of the 2022 Crusader volleyball team could eventually sign college scholarships in volleyball.
Cunningham and teammate Caroline Lalonde were first-team all-state selections. Leon was named Coach of The Year in the Crusaders’ division.
