Nicholls State mom volleys team play, business education

One-year-old Carson Chiapetta, wearing a red T-shirt, sat on his father Ross’ lap ready to cheer the Nicholls State Lady Colonels volleyball team to victory against the Lamar Lady Cardinals last Wednesday.

The Lady Colonels battled, tying the game at two sets and forcing a final set.

But, when it was all said and done, the Lady Colonels fell in five sets, dropping to 5-11 overall and 2-4 in the conference.

The result didn’t matter for the duo as they were just satisfied being able to watch Mallory McInnis – Carson’s mother and Ross’ wife – do what she loves doing.

It was evident from the beginning where their support was. Throughout the game, Ross’ voice could be heard above all else saying, “Come on Mal,” or “Let’s go Colonels,” followed by a resounding, “You can do it.”

McInnis didn’t disappoint as she finished the night as the team leader in kills (17) and blocks (4).

After the loss, McInnis walked to the locker room with her team. When she returned to the court several minutes later, a smile flashed across her face as she picked up Carson and kissed Ross, her usual routine following home games.

“I thought we played awesome today,” the 22-year-old boasted. “Even though we lost, we played like a team, we played together.”

The Meraux, La., native and Chalmette High School product returned to the team after a year hiatus to raise a family. She first arrived at Nicholls in 2004 after being offered a full scholarship by then-head coach M.J. Engstrom.

“This was the only place to offer me a scholarship, so there was no question where I was coming,” McInnis said.

For her, the decision to come to Nicholls was an easy one, but the choice to return for her senior season was an even easier one.

“I didn’t have to come back,” she explained. “But I love this sport so much that I just had to come back. I wanted to finish my career and get the chance to play volleyball one more year.”

To Lady Colonels head volleyball coach Chris Laird, she certainly made the right decision. McInnis has played a huge role in developing the Lady Colonels’ younger talent.

“Her presence on the court is huge for us,” the fourth-year head coach said. “A very big part of our fire is a testament to her. She’s become a huge leader for this team. She doesn’t live or die volleyball. She has other things going on, but she knows how to come out and get things done.”

So how does a wife and mother find time to be a collegiate volleyball player and keep her business and education classes in check?

“I know I have to do it, so I do it,” McInnis said. “No one said it would be easy, but I knew that when I decided to come back”

But for her, it’s all a part of “a busy life, very busy,” and she does it simply because of the sport she loves.

When she’s at school or out on the court, Ross is taking care of Carson. After McInnis had Carson, she went into volleyball overdrive, getting herself back into playing shape. She hired a personal trainer and worked out nearly every day.

All the while, Ross and family members helped with Carson. She learned that getting back into shape is much more difficult after a year.

“My passing went downhill for me, but hitting, I think I got a lot better in,” she said. “My coach and teammates are always there for me. They are completely understanding and that helps out a lot.”

Looking at McInnis’ stats, however, one would never know she took an entire year away from volleyball.

She is currently tied for third on the team in kills (93) and Laird said she is probably in the best shape she has been in since he first arrived in 2005.

The coach said he just hopes he can use McInnis’ commitment and determination as an example to his younger players. Any success the Lady Colonels achieve the rest of this year and after will be attributed to her hard work.

“She’s almost flawless on the court,” Laird said. “It shows that she truly loves the sport. Most people probably wouldn’t have come back, but she’s committed to the sport and the team. I think it’s given her more composure. The team sees that and I think they’ve learned from it.”

He added, “She’s made things easier on me as a coach, because she’s the type of player who coaches herself. In this sport, that’s important. She’s been here for the worst of times, and hopefully she’ll be around to reap the benefits of her hard work.”

When her career as a Lady Colonel is complete, McInnis said she is going to sit back and enjoy family life as she plans on either going into the business field or education.

She’ll cross that bridge when she gets to it. Right now, she said she just wants to enjoy her final season of volleyball with Ross and Carson on the sidelines.