The 2018 Clarion Herald Elite Volleyball Team

by Jonelle Foltz

By Ron Brocato, Clarion Herald

Ellie Holzman’s departure from the local high school volleyball scene will be a bitter-sweet occasion.

Bitter for Mount Carmel, whose side of the net she has ruled since her sophomore season in 2016, and sweet for every opponent on the Cubs’ 2019 schedule.

The 6-foot-2 power hitter, who has committed to attend the University of Illinois in the fall, has been the muscle in three of Mount Carmel’s five consecutive Division I state championships.

In addition, Holzman has been named Gatorade’s Louisiana Player of the Year twice (so far), three-time Division I Most Valuable Player and three-time Player of the Year on the Clarion Herald’s Elite Volleyball Team.

There are other reasons to rejoice for the 2019 opponents of 2018 Division IV champion Archbishop Hannan. Although the Hawks may continue to be formidable on the courts, they will have to do it without departing senior stars Allee Morris and Mikayla Boyer. Both have been named to past Elite teams, as has Ansley Tullis of Pope John Paul II and Kai Williams of Cabrini, both juniors.

Coaches April Hagadone of Mount Carmel and Hannan’s Rebekka Bonnaffee are no strangers to post-season accolades.

Hagadone, who has been or shared the title of the Elite team’s Coach of the Year six times since 2010, is again co-coach with Hannan’s three-time honoree Rebekka Bonnaffee.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Ellie Holzman (22), Mount Carmel, Senior