In her junior year of high school, Lauren Leaumont was being recruited by several universities, including the University of New Orleans, LSU and Tennessee. But after nine years of playing school and club volleyball, the Mount Carmel star decided not to play in college.
“It wasn’t really fun anymore,” Leaumont said. “I always told myself that when it wasn’t fun I would quit.”
Mount Carmel Academy won the state championship in 2000 and was first runner-up in 2001. Leaumont said she did not mind the competitiveness. In fact it was what kept her in the sport. She said she just got burned out.
“I couldn’t push myself any further,” Leaumont said.
The freshman outside hitter for the Tigers played volleyball her senior year with the expectation that it would be her last season.
However, the following spring she decided to join a club volleyball team in her hometown of New Orleans. It was with that team that she began to rethink her decision to only be a student in college. She then contacted LSU coach Fran Flory and informed her of her decision to return to volleyball.
“She plays with a true passion,” Flory said.
Leaumont said she knew she made the right decision to play in college the first week of practice with LSU.
“I knew I was in the right place,” she said. “It was hard work, but when you enjoy something so much you don’t mind.”
Midway through this season, Leaumont proved her worth to the team as she recorded 16 kills against South Carolina to lead LSU to a four-game win that broke South Carolina’s nine-game winning streak over the Tigers.
“Leaumont was huge for us,” said Flory after the game. “She did a tremendous job not only offensively, but also with her ball control and her passing.”
A consistent starter, Leaumont leads the team this season in digs per game with a 2.44 average. Offensively, she has 333 kills this season with an average of 3.08 per game and has scored 388 points for the Tigers.
“She’s done a great job,” Flory said. “She really has been a savior, choosing to play again after sitting out.”
Junior Rachel Pittman said Leaumont has been a real surprise.
“Her passing is great,” Pittman said. “She’s confident handling the ball. She creates shots. It’s a real blessing to have someone who can do that.”
Leaumont said her goal is to become a leader for the team and help take the program to another level.
Flory said she thinks the time Leaumont took off helped her realize how much she loves to play volleyball. She said, as much as Leaumont’s return has meant to the team, it has “meant an equal amount to her.”
“I kind of wanted to figure out who I was without sports and found out sports are a part of me,” Leaumont said.