Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball 2014 Preview: Middle Blockers

Returners: Abby Filce, Chanelle Gardner, Kailyn Turner
Newcomers: Chynna Brooks, Kae Kae Lockhart

The Ragin' Cajuns ranked in the bottom half of the Sun Belt Conference in blocks a year ago; however, with four of its top five blockers from 2013 back and a year older, the play at the net has the chance to turn into a true strength for the team this season.

The team does have to deal with the loss of all-conference middle blocker Tonice White to graduation after White started all 33 matches on the year, ranking second on the team in kills (2.56 kps) and third in blocks (0.60 bps). Still, head coach Heather Mazeitis-Fontenot looks to have the tools to fill the gap, and then some.

Sophomore Chanelle Gardner was one of the top blockers in the Sun Belt Conference last year, leading the team and averaging 0.92 rejections per set as a true freshman. But a strong spring and a promising preseason has the coaching staff optimistic that the St. Martinville native could make a significant jump in her offensive output this year.

"She is very athletic, but what I like about her is she is starting to realize the depth of her responsibility as a middle," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "Last year she was a great blocker for us, but her attacking was secondary. That is starting to even out and she is becoming quicker with us running a faster offense."

The leading candidate early on to flank Gardner at the net is junior Abby Flice, who earned a starting spot last season and is well on her way to securing another starting position this preseason according to Mazeitis-Fontenot.

She hit at a .190 clip last year and averaged 1.03 kills and 0.33 blocks per set as a redshirt sophomore in 2013 and also provides another option as a right-side hitter.

"Abby really caught fire toward the end of last year," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "She's a great player who is working hard to find a position in the starting six."

The Ragin' Cajuns also welcome a pair of newcomers to the middle in transfer Kae Kae Lockhart and freshman Chynna Brooks, with both bringing significant athleticism to the roster.

Lockhart, a 6-3 native of Houston has two years of eligibility remaining after transferring from Iowa Western Community College where she helped her squad to a 44-5 record and a seventh-place finish in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament.

"Kae Kae is a great athlete who we've known about for a while," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "Once she learns the offense, she is going to be a force for us in the middle. We are very excited to have her in our system now, and by the end of the season, I expect her to be a real force for us."

Meanwhile, Brooks is a local product from New Iberia who lettered four years at New Iberia High School before making her first appearance on the club scene last year.

"She is another phenomenal athlete who got some well-needed experience last year with Louisiana Volleyball," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "We will probably move her to the outside in the future, but for now we'll keep her in the middle because she is really a middle that is eager to play right now."

2014 Season Preview Schedule
August 14 - Setters
August 19 - Outside Hitters
August 22 - Middle Blockers
August 25 - Liberos/Defensive Specialists

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University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball 2014 Preview: Middle Blockers

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