Lady Leps Open Volleyball Season at Home This Week

The first day of the volleyball regular season comes two days before the start of school for La Grange.

The 2024 Lady Leps officially start their season at home Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. against Weimar.

For the La Grange girls this will be a much different lineup on the court than last season after the Lady Leps graduated a whopping seven players from last year’s team which went 20-24, finished third in district and went to the second round of the playoffs.

“Every year is new, but we did lose a big chunk of kids, lost a backcourt that had been with us for a while,” said La Grange head coach Leslie Coltrain, who begins her seventh season leading the team. “Replacing them will be a challenge. I have five defensive specialists on the roster this year and they will be competing every single day in the gym for that time on the court.”

The Lady Leps only have two seniors on this year’s team – varsity returnee Cara Homer and varsity newcomer Celeine Fabre.

“I’m excited ,” Fabre said. “I just want to live in the moment and make this a great season.”

Besides Fabre, the other defensive specialists new to the varsity are Caleigh Brock, Kyla Colon, Ashtyn Smith and Ella Nygren.

Smith is one of two freshmen to make the varsity along with middle blocker Brion Williams.

Cara Homer, the niece of former Lady Lep great Breanna Homer, turned into a force at the net last season for the Lady Leps (she was honorable mention all-district) and Coltrain said she is playing with even more confidence this season.

“I’m ready to be a good teammate and encourage everyone on the court,” Homer said. “I know we are going to work hard and do well this season.”

At the net there’s a lot more experience returning for the Lady Leps.

Kylie Trlicek, last year’s Setter of the Year in the district, returns for her junior season. Junior hitter Carley Ulrich was a first team all district selection last season and Coltrain said she has upped her game even more in the offseason.

Sophomore middle blocker Kenna Lamza was an honorable mention all district selection last season, and Faith Greenwood also is a varsity returnee.

Besides the aforementioned defensive players, other varsity newcomers include juniors Clara Bundick, Hope Michalke and Jaley Stork and sophomore Avery Griffin.

Altogether, it’s a squad that Coltrain is excited to take into battle in a new volleyball district this season. But it is actually a return to a more historic district alignment, which includes Bellville, Caldwell, Giddings, Navasota and Smithville. Gone is last year’s district champ Taylor but also perennial cellar-dwellars Manor New Tech and Austin Achieve.

“This was actually the district when I first got here,” Coltrain said. “I’m glad to be back in a district where will be play some more competitive teams.”

But before district a gruelling non-district schedule awaits. It all begins Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at home against Weimar.