By Shawn White

Of the five high schools in Webster Parish, the smallest will be the first to usher in volleyball.   The Doyline Lady Panthers will begin its first season with head coach Chassidy Anderson at the helm.   This will be Anderson’s first time coaching.  The new sport piqued some interest at the Class B school as 41 girls tried out for the squad. 

“They are all so excited,” Anderson said. “They all want to stay late every time we have practice.  It’s our first time and my first time coaching, so we are all learning.  We have an awesome set of girls and they all want to play bad.”

Doyline was looking for another sport for the girls and volleyball happened to be an option.  Anderson sees this as another opportunity for girls at the school. 

“Some of the girls play all the sports,” said Anderson.  “Some don’t want to play softball or the other sports but they’ll give volleyball a try.”

The Lady Panthers will be competing in District I of Division V.  Doyline’s district is comprised of some fairly new teams.  Downsville has only been playing since 2022.  St. Mary’s began play last season.  Lincoln Prep and Providence Classical Academy will also start their first year.  

Volleyball is dominated by South Louisiana schools.  Calvary Baptist was the first team north of Alexandria to crack the state tournament which started in the quarterfinals three years ago.  Ruston reached the tournament for the first time last season.  No team has reached past the quarterfinals.  Despite the South Louisiana dominance, volleyball is a growing sport in North Louisiana.  

The Lady Panther players are excited to be part of the inaugural team. 

“I’m excited because this is the first sport I’ve played in my high school years,” said Junior Mackenzie Stevens.  “I’ve always enjoyed watching volleyball.”

Sophomore Karmadie Bartlett has a little volleyball blood in her family as her mother played for a Christian school and her sister graduated three years ago at Haughton.  “My mom and sister played so I’ve always wanted to play,” said Bartlett.

“It’s another fun sport to add to the other sports I already play and add it in my last year,” Senior Savannah Stanley said.  Stanley also plays softball and is a cheerleader.  

The new volleyball team will have to work around the basketball team practices but will work it out.  The volleyball season will end around October and basketball will begin in November.  

The Lady Panthers team has no players who have experience with travel ball and are only in P.E. class.  Needless to say, a few teams in the area have that kind of experience.  When faced with the situation of facing a more experienced team initially, the new Doyline team is optimistic. 

“I think it’s going to be tough at first,” Bartlett said.  “This year we can use it as a practice year and next year we will be good.”

The Lady Panthers will start the first year on the road on September 5 at Downsville.  They will continue with four more road matches before they have their first home match against Wossman on September 23 at 6:30 p.m.