Bouzigard making mark for Cajuns
May 23, 2018
Colonels get ‘miracle’ weekend with sweep, lots of help around Southland
May 23, 2018
First-year Nicholls State University volleyball coach Jay Van Vark has some new talent coming through his locker room.
Van Vark introduced the Colonels’ 2018 signing class this week – a six-player crop which will aim to help the Colonels emerge to the top of the Southland Conference standings after a couple tough seasons.
The group contains a setter, two outside hitters, two blockers and a libero and Van Vark said everyone in the group will be able to contribute to the program right away, adding that he’s excited to see all six players in the Colonels’ uniform.
“I am very excited about the talent level and character of our incoming athletes,” Van Vark said. “Bringing both experience and elite-level athleticism will continue the growth we have worked hard at this spring.”
The signing class consists off setter Heidi Carpenter, outside hitters Emily Gauthreaux and Sydney Swann, middle blockers Aaliyah Burras and Maddie Lowe and defensive specialist Kylie Lockhart.
Gauthreaux is a familiar name locally because she was a powerhouse for Vandebilt – one of the top players on a championship-winning team.
At the time of her signing, Gauthreaux said she was eager to play in front of her family and friends in Thibodaux.
While competing before familiar faces, Gauthreaux is also more than capable of making new fans in the area, as well.
She was a member of the Lady Terriers’ State Championship team in 2017, having been named the Most Outstanding Player in the tournament.
Gauthreaux’s entire career was a gem. She was a four-time all-district selection and as a senior, she was named District MVP, All-Region MVP in addition to the Most Outstanding Player honor.
The other players in the class are very decorated, as well.
Buras is somewhat of a local, hailing from Waggaman. A member of the Isidore Newman volleyball team, she was named to the 2017 Louisiana Volleyball Coaches Association Division IV All-State team in 2017 after finishing her prep career with a bang, posting 520 kills, 97 blocks and 43 aces for her team.
Burras was an All-Metro selection and helped her team to the Pontchartrain Center for a date in the Division IV State Quarterfinals.
Carpenter is a transfer student from Grand Canyon University. A Mesa, Arizona native, Carpenter was named as the team’s MVP in her freshman season, starting all 27 matches for the team.
Before competing at Grand Canyon, Carpenter was a dominant force at Mesa High School in Arizona where she set the school’s all-time assist record with 1,440.
Carpenter is a junior transfer. It is not known if she is eligible to play right away or if she will have to sit out per NCAA transfer rules.
Swann, too, is a transfer student who is coming to Nicholls with collegiate experience.
She is a sophomore transfer from Tennessee State University where she posted 61 digs and 37 kills, playing in 25 of the team’s 30 matches.
Before going off to the next level, Swann was a standout for Blythewood High School, leading the team to the Region 5 Championship in each of her final two seasons at the prep level.
Lowe is a high school signee who lands in Thibodaux with a lot of promise.
As a standout at Round Rock High School, Lowe was a First-Team All-District selection in Class 6A, while also being named as the team’s Most Outstanding Hitter during an awards program following her senior season.
Lowe led the team to a Top-16 finish in 2016, as well.
Lowe is a high-character signee. She was a four-year Academic All-District recipient and in her time away from the high school season, she competed for the 18 Royal Austin Skyline Juniors club volleyball team.
Rounding out the signees is Lockhart, who is a libero from Friendswood, Texas.
At the high school level, Lockhart was named District 24-6A Player of the Year and Defensive MVP, as well as winning First-Team All-District honors.
For her solid work at the next level, Lockhart earned a spot as an all-star libero for the Greater Houston Volleyball Coaches Association.
Lockhart is also an experience travel ball player. She played for the Absolute Volleyball Academy club team.
All of these signees will be playing for first-year coach Jay Van Vark, who is trying to turn around a program which has struggled mightily to enjoy success in the past few years.
Van Vark said at the time of his hiring that he would tirelessly recruit the area and beyond to attract the best talent to the program.
Van Vark is a long-time assistant coach who also does work for USA Volleyball.
“I’m thrilled about joining this program and Colonel Country,” Van Vark said. “The Southland Conference has a proud history and we are aiming to rise and compete at the top of the conference.”
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