Staff Report

A Central Catholic volleyball player, who is a member of the Louisiana Volleyball All-Star Elite 17s team, began her club season this past weekend at LSU.

Brie Hill kicked off her season at the Baton Rouge Blast Off Saturday and Sunday.

Hill, who helped lead Central Catholic to the Division 5 state semifinals this past season, is joined by select players from St. Joseph’s Academy, St. Thomas More, Ascension Episcopal, E.D. White, Comeaux, Assumption and Zachary high schools.

“It has been an honor to be selected to the Elite Team,” Hill said. “LAVB is an awesome organization. I enjoyed playing for them last season and going to the National Tournament in Orlando.”

Hill’s mother, Michelle Brashear, said other area players on the squad include E.D. White’s Emily Weimer and Assumption’s Yasmin Jacobs.

The squad is coached by Jessica Burke, head coach at St. Thomas More.

“I was very excited when I found out I would be playing for Coach Jes,” Hill said. “She is one of the best coaches in high school volleyball. Her high school team has always been successful.”

Hill said practices began prior to the Christmas holidays and the squad has been practicing multiple times per week in Lafayette.

The squad’s season ends the last week of June where the squad will compete in the national tournament at Disney World, Brashear said.

“We have so much talent on our team,” Hill said. “The other players on my team are great. We’ve all become great friends. I can’t wait to start competing. We are taking it one game at a time, but are determined to bring the National Championship home to LAVB.”

Brashear said the squad will play against top teams in tournaments in Baton Rouge, Memphis, Tenn.; Lafayette; Atlanta, Nashville, Tenn.; Birmingham, Ala.; Louisville, Ky.; New Orleans and Orlando, Fla.

Brashear said Hill is being scouted by colleges across the U.S., including Yale, Dartmouth, Southern Miss, Jackson State, Southern University and Howard.