Reunited at state tournament, mentor, protégé to coach same time, same floor – American Press

A quarter of a century ago, Rene Fontenot and Gloria Fontenot helped lead Sam Houston to the state volleyball finals as coach and player.

They’ll be on the same floor today, at least one more time, at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state volleyball tournament at the Cajundome.

Sam Houston head coach Rene Fontenot, who is retiring after this season, and the Broncos, will play just yards from his former student and the Westlake Rams in the quarterfinals.

“I talked to (Gloria) for a while yesterday,” Rene Fontenot said. “I’m so excited for her and that team. It’s a bunch of seniors and she’s really poured into them and knows them well because a lot of them cross in basketball for her. I told Gloria before I really proud of her and I was excited.”

Both teams play at 2.30pm today. Broncos (38-6), the team no. 2 in Division II, will play against no. 7 Kenner Discovery Health Science (28-7) on court 1, while Division III no. 9 Westlake (22-11) meets top-ranked Archbishop Hannan (30-6) on Court 2.

This is the first time the two head coaches have led their teams to the state tournament in the same season.

“Being side by side and seeing that, I think it’s pretty neat for me,” Gloria Fontenot said. “I’m going to be there next to her and not just in the stands watching.”

Gloria Fontenot, a 2001 graduate of Sam Houston High School, helped lead the Broncos to a runner-up finish in 1999 as a junior.

“She’s a good coach,” Gloria Fontenot said of Rene. “We had a lot of fun times. You remember the memories, the trips, playing with your teammates, your coach and the confidence she instilled in us.

“She would push us, but was also there in our corner. She took us to tournaments and overnight trips to make sure we saw the best competition in the entire state, which is something I still continue to do.”

Rene Fontenot has won 820 games in 33 seasons and Gloria Fontenot has modeled the Westlake program on what she learned from her time with the Broncos. Gloria Fontenot has 318 wins in 14 seasons.

“Once you play for her, she’ll always be my coach,” Gloria Fontenot said. “She’s a great coach. “She taught me a lot about what I know, especially early in my career when I needed help.

“When I first entered the volleyball season, I turned to Rene for help. I asked her things and she would help me. It was always my first call early in my career. There are many things she taught me and life lessons about being a better person and a better character.”

The Rams are coming off an upset of No. 8 Iota in the regional round and faces a powerhouse Hannan team that has won three of the last four Division III state championships. The Rams look to their nine seniors to lead them to a quarterfinal win for the first time since 2019.

“We’re in business,” Gloria Fontenot said. “We are playing our best, but we haven’t played our very best game.

“I hope it is (today). We’re capable of it. We’ve got to clean up our mistakes. We’ve just got to cut down, cut down some of the mistakes we can control, the serving mistakes, the serve receiving, some of the defensive or batting errors.”

Sam Houston is playing in the state tournament for the 19th time, while Kenner is a relative newcomer in his second trip.

“It’s a big draw,” Rene Fontenot said. “It’s a little easier not to have any history with someone.

“The girls feel that they are prepared and ready and are happy that it’s not really someone we know because the next one would be. I think we have to be very good with our ball control. I think our first contact has to remain consistent in order for us to stay in the system and not be forced out of the system.”

Louisiana High School Athletic Association state volleyball tournament

at the Cajundome

Quarterfinals

Thursday

Division I

No. 1 Slidell vs. No. 9 Southside, 12:40 Court 2

no. 4 Hahnville vs. no. 12 Northshore, at 20, Court 2

No. 3 Mt. Carmel vs. No. 6 Dutchtown, at 20, Court 3

No. 2 Dominican vs. No. 10 Archbishop Chapelle, at 20.00 Court 3

Division II

No. 1 St. Thomas More vs. No. 9 St. Scholastics, 18:10 Court 1

No. 4 Lakeshore vs. No. 5 Academy of Our Lady, 14:30 Court 3

No. 3 Ben Franklin vs. No. 6 Teurlings Catholic, 18:10 Court 3

no. 2 Sam Houston vs. no. 7 Kenner Discovery Health Science, 14:30 Court 1

Section III

No. 1 Archbishop Hannan vs. No. 9 Wesltake, at 14:30 Court 2

No. 4 St. Michael the Archangel vs. No. 5 Parkview Baptist, 4:20 p.m. Court 3

No. 3 Vandebilt Catholic vs. No. 6 ED White, at 10:50 Court 1

no. 2 Haynes Academy vs. no. 7 University Lab, at 12.40 Court 1

Section IV

no. 1 John Curtis Christian vs. no. 8 Dunham, at 9.00 Court 1

No. 4 Isidore Newman vs. No. 5 Calvary Baptist, at 9 Court 1

No. 3 Northlake Christian vs. No. 6 Catholic-New Iberia, 4:20 p.m., Court 2

No. 2 Lafayette Christian vs. No. 7 Academy of Sacred Heart-NO, 10:50 Court 2

Division V

No. 1 Metairie Park Country Day vs. No. 9 Episcopal of Acadiana, 4:20 p.m. Court 1

no. 4 Crescent City vs. no. 5 Louise McGehee, 12:40 Court 3

No. 3 Ascension Catholic vs. No. 6 Riverside Academy, at 9, Court 2

No. 2 Westminster Christian vs. No. 7 Central Catholic, at 10:50 Court 3

Semifinals

Friday

Division I

15.30, Court 1

15.30, Court 3

Division II

1.40 p.m., Court 1

1.40 p.m., Court 3

Section III

11:50, Court 1

11:50, Court 3

Section IV

10.00, Court 1

10.00, Court 3

Division V

11:50, Court 2

10.00, Court 2

Finals

Saturday

Division V, at 9:00 a.m

Division IV, at 11.30 am

Division III, 2 p.m

Division II, 4:30 p.m

Division I, at