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Pratt’s spikes are leading Panthers to big season

By Dean Caparaz Daily Planet Correspondent
Wednesday October 30, 2002

Jazmin Pratt is the key to St. Mary’s girls volleyball rebirth. 

Pratt, a senior outside hitter, has powered the Panthers to an 8-3 record (6-3 in the Bay Shore Athletic League) through Oct. 22. As a junior last year, Pratt saw St. Mary’s win just twice all season. But the 5-foot-6 dynamo with a wicked shot averages 9.1 kills per match to lead her team in what has been the most successful season in the program’s history. 

Cherise Revell was the St. Mary’s freshmen coach last year and saw from a distance what Pratt could do. Now as varsity coach, Revell benefits from Pratt’s play as a senior. 

Pratt has improved every area of her game, Revell says, from her defensive skills to her hitting. The 17-year-old has arguably the hardest spike in the BSAL. 

“Jazmin definitely has one of the hardest hits around, as in hard, down and intimidating,” Revell said. 

Perhaps the most noticeable improvement has been in Pratt’s leadership skills. The outspoken player is a co-captain for the second straight season and enjoys building the team community. 

“She seems much more team motivated,” Revell said. “I’ve told her, ‘I’m relying on you to get the girls together, to get them motivated.’ She’s had the girls do meditation to get ready for the games. I’ve really let her take on a leadership role that I don’t know was there last year. She’s really risen to the expectation.” 

The chatty Pratt isn’t shy when talking about her play – “I average three or four kills, and that’s per game,” she says – but won’t take sole credit for the Panthers’ turnaround. She points to some talented freshman, including 5-foot-10 middle blocker Natalie Bogan and setter Aleesha Woodruff, and having Revell around for inspiring the team. 

“[Revell] focuses on team unity, on and off the court,” Pratt said. “We’ve had team dinners, team slumber parties. We worked together as a team at the Cal games to raise money. Being friends with people on and off the court makes a big difference. When you seen them on campus, you have a whole new respect for them.  

“When you’re on the court, it’s just that much easier. You know they have your back. If they miss something, if they get a kill or if they hit the ball in the net, you know they still like you. That team support makes a huge difference. We really didn’t have that team unity last year.” 

Just having Pratt around full-time this year has been a major difference. Last season, she missed half the season with a pulled muscle in her back. That was a death knell for the Panthers, who struggled all year. 

She hasn’t missed a match in 2002, including the battle with Salesian High on Oct. 10. Pratt had a bad cold and a fever but was not going to miss taking on the Panthers’ rival as she did last season. Pratt starred in the match, hammering 13 kills to go with 16 digs. Her season high in kills came in a five-set win over St. Elizabeth on Oct. 1, when she had 18 kills, 10 digs and three aces. 

Revell says Pratt’s talent will translate to the college game, though Pratt just hopes to get there. She’s talking with Miami and Morgan State. Most universities would push her to the back row because, even though she has a good vertical leap, she’s too short to be an outside hitter at the Division 1 level. 

“I’d be a defensive specialist if I went anywhere, because of my height,” she said. “I’m vertically challenged.” 

Wherever she goes, she’ll remember fondly the legacy she built at St. Mary’s. 

“Look out for St. Mary’s to maybe be a powerhouse,” she said. “Albany, look out. Piedmont, look out, because St. Mary’s is coming up.”