At the beginning of the week our Varsity Tennis team traveled to Monroe, LA to compete in the LHSAA State Tournament. The girls were up against 28 teams, and the boys competed against 29 teams. The girls won the 2017 LHSAA Division IV Girls Tennis State for the third consecutive year, while the boys finished third in the 2017 LHSAA Division IV Boys Tennis State. Freshman Alyse Cormier dominated over the competition, playing aggressively throughout 5 different matches. She finished as the reigning 2017 LHSAA Division IV Girls Singles Champion. Alyse was also named “High Achiever of the Week” by The Daily Advertiser, which is a tremendous honor.

Other outstanding victories include partners junior Mustafa Alam, and senior Jacob Abdella, who were named the 2017 LHSAA Division IV Boys Doubles Champions. Jacob Abdella committed to Loyola University in New Orleans earlier this year. He will be joining his brother, Brandon Abdella, a former Ascension student, to continue his tennis career next fall. This competition was senior standout Julia Doucet’s last time playing high school tennis and last match with her longtime doubles partner, junior Alison Burgess. The two have been playing together for four years, representing Ascension’s growing tennis program proudly. Companions on and off of the court, the impressive duo share intense friendship and love for the sport. Such a chemistry pushed the girls to improve individually so to become better for one another, which eventually lead Julia and Alison to synch the 2017 LHSAA Division IV Girls Doubles Runners-Up trophy.

With every great competition, there is room for potential injuries. Sophomore Ashleigh Burgess, partnered with senior Elizabeth Lee, played gracefully through the pain of a sprained ankle. This not only proved her dedication to her team, but revealed her passion for the game. The hardworking athlete clearly earned herself the state title. When asked about trial, she admitted, “even though the pain was terrible at times, it was a really amazing experience and worth the work.” As shown, the team travelled a treacherous and painful path toward achieving this goal. The school community is immensely proud of the ways the tennis program has progressed and cannot wait to support them as they continue to improve in the future!