(Photo of Westminster Christian Academy volleyball coach Keith Leon and standout Anna Ware) BOBBY ARDOIN Editor/Consulting Writer
Returning to the Division 5 state volleyball tournament as a No. 2 seed isn’t normally an accomplishment for teams that have lost six senior starters.
However, Westminster Christian Academy seems to have ignored the parameters of that challenge.
After reaching the championship round of the 2022 tournament, the Crusaders are back at the Cajundome this week, seeking another chance to capture a state title with a team that began this season with significant inexperience.
With only one senior on the roster, Westminster hasn’t lost a postseason set, as the Crusaders meet No. 7 Central Private at 9 am in a Thursday Quarterfinal.
Westminster head volleyball coach Keith Leon says his team began playing at a high level during the final third of the regular season, exhibiting a cohesiveness that normally isn’t maintained on a team with one senior.
“I think this year we have a team that really communicates and seems to play well as a group. We are using a different concept than we have in the past, going to a 5-1 rather than a 6-2 and seems to have been something that has really helped us,” said Leon.
WCA has elevated its postseason advancement during each of Leon’s previous four seasons. Last year the goal for Westminster was to play for the championship against Country Day.
Westminster met that goal, taking the title round to five sets before earning the runner-up spot.
The 2022 Crusaders were also filled with an abundance of college signees. Four of the six seniors signed scholarships.
Although WCA started the year 7-4, those departures haven’t seemed to severely affect WCA.
“This year the players go about the match with the intention of doing their jobs. We have some skilled players and they have come together to get us where we are right now,” Leon added.
The 2023 version of Westminster volleyball features standouts like 6-foot middle blocker Bethany Stoute, and Ana-Camille Melancon who when the chance occurs, provides prodigious hits.
Other key performers for the Crusaders include Sophia Wiltz along with Anna Ware, Laila Gauthier, senior Madison Marks and Kristen Thomas.
Westminster, which won 14 straight before losing to Catholic-New Iberia in the final regular season single match, enters the state tournament winning two of five games at the annual Episcopal School of Acadiana Tournament.
Country Day, which has won seven straight championships, is the top seed this week in Division V.
Also qualifying for the tournament are ESA (9th), Louise McGehee (5th), Central Catholic-Morgan City (4th), Ascension Episcopal (3rd), Ascension Catholic (6th).
In the first two rounds of the postseason, the Crusaders have defeated Hamilton Christian and Riverside. WCA won both matches 3-0.
