Seven parish players make volleyball All-Metro team

The Baton Rouge area All-Metro volleyball squad for large schools was peppered with Ascension products throughout. Altogether, seven parish stars were selected to the team.

As expected, St. Amant had the most players from Ascension with four.

The Lady Gators had yet another stellar year as they won the district title with a perfect 8-0 record. The strong finish earned them the No. 4 seed come playoff time.

They made a run to the Volleyball State Tournament and reached the semifinals before losing to top-ranked St. Joseph's Academy. Overall, St. Amant finished the year 31-12.

Kara Gremillion made the All-Metro squad on the strength of 644 digs and 73 aces. She was also District 3-5A MVP and the parish's lone All-State selection.

Along with Gremillion, Alli Duplechein made the team. Duplechein was a force at the net all season as she finished with 281 kills and 126 blocks.

She was also a first-team all-district selection.

Maggie Duplechein was named All-Metro. She came into her own this season, compiling 547 assists, 369 kills and 247 digs. She was also a first-team all-district selection.

Another first-team all-district selection in Kourtney Gremillion was named honorable mention All-Metro.

East Ascension had two players make the All-Metro squad.

The Lady Spartans had a solid year where they went 24-17 and earned a No. 13 seed heading into the playoffs. Unfortunately, they were upset by Slidell in the opening round.

That didn't stop Emily Venable from making All-Metro. Venable had no trouble filling stat-sheets all season as she finished with 443 assists, 217 kills and 171 digs.

Teammate Claire Weinberger was named honorable mention All-Metro. Both players were first-team all-district selections.

Dutchtown's lone member of the All-Metro squad was Kristen Thompson.

Thompson helped lead the Lady Griffins to a second-place finish in the district, 26 wins and an 11th seeding for the playoffs.

Dutchtown reached the second round, where they were defeated by sixth-seeded Comeaux.

Thompson dominated the net all season for the Lady Griffins. On her way to being named District 3-5A Offensive MVP and All-Metro, she piled up 553 kills and 54 blocks.