Newman claims first volleyball title since 2013 with three-set win for Division IV crown

Greenies defeat Pope John Paul II squad reeling from tragic passing of coach's son

By Buck Ringgold

LAFAYETTE - For the first time since 2013, Isidore Newman claimed a state volleyball championship. 

The Greenies recorded a three-set win against Pope John Paul II (25-20, 25-18, 27-25) for the Division IV title at the Cajundome.

However, it was a bittersweet celebration for the Greenies. While they were happy with the win, they were facing a Pope John Paul II squad that was reeling from the death of Christian Tullis, a 16-year-old student at the school and the son of Jaguars’ coach Danny Tullis and assistant coach Diana Tullis.

Christian Tullis passed away in a vehicle accident on Friday while driving back home following the Jaguars’ semifinal victory.

Both Danny and Diana Tullis did not coach in Saturday’s title game, as assistant Erica Williams guided the squad. But senior setter Ali Tullis, Danny’s daughter and Christian’s sister, had no doubt in her mind she wanted to play in the championship match.

Ali Tullis also did her best to stay focused, and she ended up leading the Jaguars in assists with 27, along with serving an ace.

“I don’t really know (how her parents are doing Saturday) because I kind of put my phone away and was just focusing on the game,” she said. “But I think they’re doing way better (Saturday) because they know I had the heart and fought, like I wanted to go play (Saturday).

“Christian, if it wasn’t for you, I would be at home crying in my bed. But I know you wanted to go to Penn State, and I know you wanted me to shine, so we put your initials on our bows and I wrote you on my wrist, and I love you forever.”

While Newman coach Colleen Loerzel was happy for her players on Saturday, at the same time, she was definitely thinking of the Tullis family.

“Our hearts were with the Tullis family and the whole Pope John Paul community, and so it was an emotional day as it was, but this just made it so much more than that,” Loerzel said. “And so, our girls battled hard out there and it was fun, but it was bittersweet.

“The Tullises have been an important part of the volleyball community for so long, and they’ve touched so many lives between coaching at school and in the club system, and so everybody’s hearts are with them right now.”

Newman (38-5) took care of business Saturday by winning the first two sets. But the Greenies trailed in the third set, 20-13, after PJP II senior Peyton Natal served an ace.

However, the Greenies gradually stormed back and finally pulled even at 22-all; then scored the next point on a kill from senior setter Jessica Miller after a lengthy rally.

The Jaguars (26-9) regained the lead, 24-23 and had set point, but committed a service error. Then with the score tied at 25, Newman ended the match with back-to-back kills from senior outside hitter Za Nelson and junior Ella Faliveno.

“I think we just practiced on like focusing on the next point and always fighting,” Nelson said. “We always do games in practice where we’re like, a couple of points down, the other team is so near winning the set, and I think we just really implemented that in that last set.

“All we said in that last set was, ‘Fight, fight, fight, don’t let a single ball hit the ground,’ and we did an excellent job doing that.”

Nelson was named the match’s MVP, as she had a team-high 18 kills to go along with 17 digs. Freshman middle Caroline Beahm added 10 kills.

Senior setter Jessica Miller recorded 51 assists, and another senior, Morgan LeBourgeois, had 25 digs.

“I just thought they were so tough; they battled and battled and never gave up and stuck together, and were disciplined and made the adjustments that we talked about, and were able to step up in a big way,” Loerzel said.

For the Jaguars, junior outside Kayla Benedic led the team with 14 kills. Another junior outside, Chloe Smith, added eight kills and a team-high 14 digs.

It was the 18th state volleyball title for the Greenies, who were making their 22nd appearance in the finals.

“My ultimate goal this season was to just win it,” Miller said. “We came in (Saturday) focused and with that goal, and I think everyone contributed with whatever they could. We were loud, we played aggressive; our coaches helped with film (Friday) night and we knew where we had the targets, and I think it was just a team win.

“But, I think this is the best feeling I’ve ever had; when we scored the last point, I was crying, I was shaking, I can’t even put it into words.”