Continuing the Standard: Dutchtown Volleyball tasked with return to Division I State Tournament
by: William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
Senior outside hitters Cadie Kusy and Ania Anderson are two of the remaining links to Dutchtown’s run to a Division I state semifinal run a year ago.
The Lady Griffins (34-9) matched the deepest run for the program where 10 seniors bowed out after a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Mt. Carmel at the Lafayette Cajundome.
“It was sad because our team was so close, and we were losing our best friends that were the seniors leaving,” Kusy said. “We tried and gave our best effort … maybe it didn’t end so well. But you always have to look forward to the next year and here we are.”
Dutchtown’s been a portrait of success under head coach Patrick Ricks, who is entering his 21st season at the Ascension Parish School. He’s guided the Lady Griffins to eight district championships and 19 playoff appearances – including 13 straight.
Regardless of the annual personnel changes, Dutchtown’s become a staple on the Division I landscape and is hopeful the program’s winning culture will result in another deep postseason run.
“We try to be fundamentally sound in everything,” Ricks said. “Some years we have really good defenses, some years we have really good hitters. Last year it was a combination of everything. We were really versatile with a lot of kids that could play a lot of positions. Mainly, we try to take it one game at a time and try to get better every time we’re on the court. The kids have bought into that with the work they put in. That’s helped us be consistent.”
Anderson’s a three-year starter that’s accustomed to the program’s ideals.
“This program has a super high standard of what we want,” she said. “We have a specific routine of how we want to do things. We try to have the highest standard in everything we do and stay together.”
Part of last year’s arsenal included all-state middle hitter Kendall Davis, the metro Baton Rouge area’s Player of the Year for large schools. She finished with a team-high 291 kills and 113 total blocks, while the Lady Griffins also lost all-district performers in outside hitter Brennan Coe (191 kills), right-side hitter Mackenzie Denson (186 kills, 82 total blocks) and libero Sidney Berry (339 digs).
Moreover, Zoe LaCaze (183 kills, 78 total blocks) signed with Millsaps and Riley Wall (167 digs, 47 service aces) walked on at McNeese State.
Dutchtown takes part in the St. Michael the Archangel Jamboree on Aug. 29 against Central, Parkview Baptist, and University. The Lady Griffins begin their season Sept. 3 at Assumption.
“We graduated 10 seniors and all of them contributed in some way,” Ricks said. “We’ve been to the quarterfinals or better the last eight years with different lineups and coaching staffs. We’ve had a good run which we’re trying to keep doing for another year.”
Been there, done that
Ricks sees some similarities in the makeup of this year’s team compared to that of his 2018 club. That team withstood the loss of a sizeable senior class and made the school’s first state
semifinal appearance.
“We lost some seniors,” he said. “We were able to go back to the state tournament and for this group, hopefully, it will be the same way. They’ll figure some things out, define some roles and I think we should be able to get back there.
“I think last year’s experience is definitely going to motivate us,” he said. “While we lost a number of players, we were able to work with a lot of the younger players and let them see that experience. You can tell they’re hungry to be back to make their own legacy. I don’t think they’re looking at wanting to continue a streak. I think they want to put their footprint on the program. I’m excited about that.”
The team’s leadership is expected to come from two of the team’s most experienced players in Kusy and Anderson, two of five seniors.
Kusy, the District 5-5A Player of the Year, led Dutchtown with 398 digs and contributed 52 aces. She had 18 digs with eight kills in the state semifinal.
“She’s an amazing player, an amazing kid that’s super great in the classroom,” Ricks said.
Kusy, who has committed to play beach volleyball at Southeastern, said the program’s standard will serve as the team’s driving force this season.
“We know that people don’t expect much from us,” Kusy said. “We know that we reached one of our farthest points in our school’s history, and we want to strive for that or farther this year. I’m more of a lead-by-example person, a little less vocal. Some of the girls that played varsity last year kind of know what to expect.”
Anderson, a University of New Orleans commitment, was part of the team’s success at the net last year with 193 kills and 39 total blocks to go with 66 digs.
“I definitely feel like we’re (along with Kusy) going to be the two biggest leaders on the floor,” Anderson said. “We know the standards, and the girls look up to us and follow us. Coach Ricks has said at practice that we’re doing very well setting the standards, and I feel like during the season the girls will
continue to follow, and the team will keep progressing.
“I feel like I have a bigger role this year compared to other years with having the 10 seniors last year,” Anderson said. “Me and Cadie are going to be two of the role models for the girls to look
up to on the court.”
New Cast of Characters
Junior middle blocker Hayden Herring was a consensus choice as a player to make a significant leap following a successful offseason. She totaled 21 kills and 13 total blocks in 18 matches
last season.
“She’s a tremendous player that could have started for any other team in the district last year,” Ricks said. “She’s waited her turn, was patient, and worked hard. She played club in the offseason and will be a force this year. She moves her hits around and is a super smart player.”
Kusy was another player touting Herring’s promise.
“They have a few girls that really are going to shine this year, that people probably haven’t heard their name before but will definitely know by the end of the season,” she said. “Hayden Herring is going to be a beast on front row, one to look out for.”
Junior setter Olivia Songy is expected to move into a full-time role at the position after playing in 40 matches a year ago. She ranked second in assists (425) and fourth in digs (168) and has competed with junior Kinsey Phillips (16 assists in ’23) in the offseason.
“Olivia stepped in last year when Madison Sanchez got hurt,” Ricks said. “She’s helped run the offense for us and Kinsey Phillips also did her thing and played in some crucial moments. We’ve got some experience with setting.”
With three to four players in the mix on the right side, Ricks said the team’s dynamic will develop throughout the season. He believes the team’s further along at libero with plans for junior Jamie Ragsdale and sophomore Caroline Johnson to handle that position.
“We all know what we’re capable of,” Johnson said. “It’s just a matter of us all putting it together and playing together on the court. We all know what we can do. We know the training. We
just need to trust in ourselves and play together.”