Parkersburg Christian’s Lott signs with West Virginia Wesleyan
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PARKERSBURG -- As a middle hitter for the Parkersburg Christian volleyball team, LouMasi Lott was a constant force at the net.
Once her senior season came to an end, the 6-footer figured academics and preparing for a career in the medical field would be her primary focal point once she began her freshman year at West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Even after looking into the Bobcats volleyball program during an initial visit to the campus located in Buckhannon, she ruled out the potential of becoming a member under coach Nancy Wheeler.
Then a text arrived from the coach.
"When I toured the campus and met with the coach, actually wanting to play volleyball wasn't in my thought process," Lott said. "My mom and I had been talking a while. I told her I don't know if I want to play. Then, they texted me about a month and a half ago and asked if I wanted to play.
"What really scared me at first -- here at Parkersburg Christian, we don't have group workouts. That's why I didn't want to do it. I told her about that and she said, 'Oh, we have people for that.' I told her OK. I am in."
Lott, who recently signed on as a member of the West Virginia Wesleyan volleyball program, joins PCHS alum Kiera Wade as the school's second student-athlete in the past decade to play at the collegiate level. Wade is the athletic director at PCHS.
"(Kiera) is my biggest role model in volleyball," Lott said. "She has a saying that confidence is key. That's what I live by in volleyball. It's always been (Kiera) who has gotten me to where I am now."
The youngest of five children, Lott already has her own personal fan club. Together with her parents (Dan and Tamra Lott) and her friends throughout PCHS who she considers as family, Lott chose West Virginia Wesleyan from the outset because it reminds her of home.
"My mom does everything for me -- she takes the time out of her day to make sure everything is ready," LouMasi said.
"My parents both have put in so much time and money for my club volleyball and just traveling in general to all my games. Mom does the book for basketball and volleyball. They are always doing stuff behind the scenes that I don't even know about.
"My youngest older brother Lakota, he goes to work and tells everybody my business. He is excited for me. My sister (Amber) loves it. She really takes care of me."
Lott recalls playing her first varsity match as a seventh grader. The experience took quite a toll for someone competing against girls four to five years older. The following year as an eighth grader, she felt more at ease and settled into a starting role for the first of five seasons.
"My first varsity match in seventh grade was against Teays Valley Christian," Lott said. "As soon as I got onto the court, I started crying -- I was so scared. The next season, all I remember was just playing."
Lott also played basketball six seasons for PCHS. Volleyball, however, has remained her first love since she started playing the sport in second grade. She has prior experience with the West Virginia Wesleyan campus, spending two weeks each of the past two summers as part of a gifted program.
The bus rides and the friendships she built competing in sports are among the biggest takeaways for Lott, whether at PCHS or what she anticipates in college.
"What I did on the volleyball court is just one big memory," Lott said. "There is a video of me dancing on the court. I'm always dancing on the court. I love when people join me."
PCHS is considered a small school, but Lott is confident she will make the transition to the academic demands of the college experience. As for volleyball, she is preparing herself physically for the next level.
"From the advice I have gotten from past alumni, they say the curriculum her at Parkersburg Christian has really helped them prepare for college," Lott said. "Right now, I go to the gym what feels like every day. I have a personal trainer to get me volleyball ready. Do I feel like I am college ready, not yet. But we will work on that."
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com