Dominican Volleyball Eyes Fifth Straight Title but Embraces the Journey Over the Destination

With four consecutive Division I state championships won and counting, Dominican volleyball players might be expected to be consumed by a five-peat.

But not so.

Interestingly enough, the process and the journey apparently are what drives Dominican’s joyful warriors rather than state crowns. It just so happens that those three elements seem to run hand in hand.

“Obviously, winning is always fun and a state championship is everyone’s goal,’’ senior outside hitter Bailey Couret, one of nine veteran players returning, who must replace four senior starters who graduated from last year’s 44-2 juggernaut, said. “However, it’s really more (about) the process and really just enjoying every step of the way and working together and just figuring everything out that’s most fun.

“It’s so fun being competitive and getting to play a bunch of other great teams. It’s just so much fun. So it’s more about the journey than the destination.’’

“We kind of stay away from (talking about winning state),’’ senior middle Zoie Mitchell said. “We do have intentions and goals that we want to achieve within the season. I think it’s everybody’s goal to win a state championship. Everybody wants to win one here and at every other school. We have (goals) within the season that we want to achieve, but they are amongst ourselves.’’

Dominican coach Jessica Chatellier only can smile when hearing her charges recite nearly line and verse the coaching staff’s annual mantra.

“When we start on day one in our gym, we’re not focusing on what we did last year,’’ Chatellier, who is in her 18th season as head coach and 22nd overall at the Fontainebleau area school. Winning a state title, “It’s great. It’s awesome. We’ve got a banner hanging on the wall and we don’t forget about it. That’s awesome.

“But when we started practice day one, that doesn’t matter anymore. We have to take care of us. It’s easy to get caught up looking at one team here and there and trying to focus on them, but we’ve really taken the stance of coming in the gym and focusing on us and making sure every day we get just a little bit better. And if we make sure that we get a little bit better every single day and take care of us, we can handle the opponents that are out in front of us.’’

“Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it isn’t,’’ Mitchell added about the flush-and-repeat methodology. “Every year we have great players that leave, but we also have great players that come in and do different things.’’ But forgetting the past, “It is easier said than done. But also behind what we do, there’s a lot of hard work put behind it. So it’s not like we just go out there and expect (winning) to happen. We put work into it, so it can be done.’’

“We just try to train them that the only thing that winning a state championship last year does for you is it puts a target on your back,’’ Chatellier said. “So we are really focusing on trying to train a little differently and make sure that we continue to make ourselves better in the gym, so we can be a moving target.’’

Dominican, which has no school mascot, returns two seasoned starters in seniors Lauren Pipitone and Mitchell, the middle blocker, around which to build with the other eight experienced players who return. Pipitone is entering her third season as a starting libero in the back row where she is credited for often getting the offense started with the 800-plus digs she recorded in 2023.

The lineup is expected to be junior outside hitter Molly Baker, middle Mihley Clayton, and sophomore right side Rani Smith projected as new starters along with senior setter Rachel Zamjahn as the team moves from a 5-1 to 6-2 offensive scheme.

Senior outside hitter Maia Briuglio, junior Mallie Mahoney, and sophomore defensive specialist Aurore Tortorich also are expected to see significant playing time if not start.

“One thing that returns pretty solid is our defense,’’ Chatellier said. “Offensively, we’re going to have to figure it out and figure out who’s going to be the one to put the ball away.

“I think we’re going to look a lot different than we have and part of our ongoing theme for this year is being different is a good thing. And sometimes you’ve got to change things up to continue to be successful.’’

The void created by the departure of graduating seniors, outside hitter Camryn Chatellier, Gabby Marcello, middle Tamia Williams, and outside hitter Noelie Haddad is sizable, though.

Chatellier, the coach’s daughter, was a consensus selection as the state’s top volleyball player as a senior, earning Outstanding Player honors on the All-State team in addition to All-District recognition while also being awarded a LSU beach volleyball scholarship. A five-year varsity player, Camryn Chatellier also was the Division I state tournament MVP in her final two seasons.

“Those four, not only was it their physical aspect on the court, but their leadership was top notch,’’ Jessica Chatellier the coach said. “All of them played different roles for us as leaders and they really had a great mix that they brought to the table for our team.

“There were a lot of good things that went into last year,’’ Chatellier said. “Those four seniors were here through what I like to call ‘The Turn In Our Program,’ where we really have had successful times when they were here. Those four went through the 8th grade together and were part of the program when we went to the finals and lost.

“And they were there for the step to actually win our first state title, so it was really special to be with those four seniors and that group of kids last year that have been trying to carry on the culture and legacy that our program is trying to leave.’’

Dominican’s mythical season began with a 9-0 start that ended with a loss to eventual Division IV state champion Hannan in match 10. Fourteen more victories ensued, including an immediate score-settling win against Hannan, before the second and final loss arrived courtesy of arch-rival Mount Carmel.

Dominican’s 3-2 District 8-I defeat was avenged two weeks later in a 3-0 sweep in a non-district rematch at Dominican by scores of 25-4, 25-20, 25-11. The four-time Division I state champions then closed with 23 consecutive match victories, including a 5-0 run through the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, culminated by a 3-1 victory against No. 2 seed Mount Carmel, 25-14, 25-23, 19-25, 33-31, in the finals.

Dominican’s win in the state finals gave the Black and White a 3-1 mark against Mount Carmel on the season.

“They wanted to be the best team in the state,’’ Chatellier the coach said. “So match by match they would focus on that opponent and make sure we’ve got to take care of this and do what we have to do to keep rolling through. They definitely brought their game to another level, a new level of play.

“What was great about that team is the two losses they had, within a week’s time they had what they like to call their ‘Redemption Games.’ They were able to play those same opponents (Hannan and Mount Carmel) and win the next time they played them. So they really had a focus last year, unlike any team we’ve had in the past.’’

Tearfully touching for Chatellier was the opportunity to share such a special season with her daughter in her senior year.

“It was so great to have that time with (Cam),’’ Jessica Chatellier said. “I feel like volleyball has always been something that we’ve been able to share. But to be able to share what I’ve done for my entire career and for it to be her send-off in the next step of her career was just something I can’t even put into words. It was awesome.’’

True to her coaching creed, Chatellier has put her personal sentimental attachment to the 2023 season behind her and is focused on this team’s future.

“We do have what looks like an older team because we have 11 seniors this year, which is a lot,’’ Jessica Chatellier said. “But their experience level is a little less than what we’ve had in the past. Our program has been very strong over the past few years, so it’s kind of been a fight to get to that point where you’re on the court for our program.

“So we have some returning starters, but we also have some who have not even been on varsity before who are in the mix for us. I think what’s so great about that is every day we come into the gym, they just make so much progress. It’s amazing to see the leaps and bounds they make every single day. It’s been very different in that sense.

“Challenging them is something we can do every single day and they are responding well to it. Before (in past seasons) it was us really working hard to find something that would challenge them in the gym. Now, this group, it’s every day they’re taking big steps and learning and growing. So it’s been a great, fulfilling experience this year.’’

Likewise for Dominican’s players, who open the season Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Ben Franklin followed by a Thursday, Sept. 5 home match versus Vandebilt Catholic.

“We have a lot of potential,’’ Mitchell said. “We’ve been working really hard this preseason. Overall, we’re very energetic. We have a lot of different personalities on the team which really helps and brings us all together. I think this season we’re going to accomplish many great things.

“I think our defense and back row are great. We have a lot of great defensive people. I think them just being able to read around the block and our hitters having a lot of shots (in their repertoire), so it’s not just straight-down kills’’ are a huge plus. “We have a lot of our shots and we know where to hit (the ball) to get the defense moving, so I think that’s really going to help us this season.’’

“We all have expectations not just for ourselves, but for each other and we try to keep ourselves accountable,’’ Pipitone said. “We have a bunch of different personalities that affect our team in different ways. And we have a bunch of people who make an impact very physically, very mentally, very vocally and all of that helps impact the people on the court and off of the court as well. It just makes us a better and more together team.’’

A together team determined to own the killer instinct of previous Dominican teams.

“It’s something that we’re really working on, to have that fire and to just be really competitive and work for what we want,’’ Pipitone said.

“We’re really excited for this season,’’ Briuglio said. “ We have 11 seniors and we also have a lot of young girls, so we’ve learned a lot from past years. We know what it’s like to win at the end, but that’s also not our main goal right now. We’re just focusing on getting better at each practice and each scrimmage and each game.

“I think we have a strong defense. We lost a few of our hitters from last year. We have almost the same defense as last year, so especially for the beginning of the season that’s a strong suit for us just because we’re used to each other and how each other plays.’’

“Physically, our defense is really strong,’’ Couret said. “We also have such a great connection between our front row and our back row. The communication is there. We work together talking, calling out shots from the back row and it all just comes together. But our defense is really strong and can take us far.’’

So let the process continue.

“I think we have to figure out who our leaders are,’’ Chatellier the coach said. “We have to figure out how to be comfortable in new roles because a lot of them have been able to play (alongside) these big guns and they could just follow in and play, but now they have to be the one. So I think it’s us finding a way to assume that role and know that there is no one else to look to now. It’s me now. And I’ve got to take the reins and go.

“So I think that’s going to be our biggest challenge, (getting) people saying, ‘It’s me. Give me the ball. And let’s go.’ Because we’ve had four of the past few years the same people doing that. That’s got to change this year. Once we figure that out and they know they’re capable and that they can play that role, we’ll find success.’’