North Vermilion volleyball player Brooke Dupuy is special

LEROY - Every now and then a very special athlete will grace the halls of a high school and for North Vermilion that very special athlete is Brooke Dupuy

Not only is she a prominent member of the softball team, but she is one of the leaders of the volleyball team as well, and its her leadership of the volleyball team that makes her most special.

The volleyball team at NV has only been around for six total season, and Brooke has been a member of the team for only two seasons. The special part come from the fact that before two years ago, she had never played volleyball in her life.

According to her coach, she only tried out because she was such a stand out softball player and the volleyball team was looking for all the athletes it could find. 

“When she first tried out she didn’t know anything,” North Vermilion Head Coach Celie LeBlanc said. “She and the other softball players that tried out didn’t know how to score, didn’t know any of the rules and barley had a grasps on the basics of hitting the ball.”

Despite all of that, Dupuy still made the volleyball squad.

“I hated it at first,” Dupuy said. “I’m used to sports coming to me pretty easy, and with volleyball I just couldn’t get as fast as I wanted to. So, I hated it, but I kept at it and tried to get better and better and now I love it.”

Fortunately, for NV, Dupuy stuck with volleyball and worked harder ever day. She worked so hard in fact that at the end of last season she was named the all-district libero.

“It was amazing to see her last year,” LeBlanc said. “She went from never playing the sport to being the best libero in the district.”

The amazing part of this whole story is how Dupuy went from not knowing anything about the sport of volleyball to becoming the best libero in the district. For most people it’s hard enough to be adequate at a sport, but it’s Dupuy’s state of mind that gave her the edge. 

“I knew where I wanted to be and even though it was tough at first, it’s just in my nature to stick with something until I get where I want to be,” Dupuy said.

Over the course of last season Dupuy had to learn an entirely new game from the ground up.  She had to start with the basics.  All while still playing regular season game for NV. 

While she was learning, she and the entire NV volleyball squad made its first ever trip to the playoffs.

“It was exciting to be there, especially since I knew where I was at the beginning of the season,” Dupuy said.

Now, this season she is one of the main reasons the Lady Patriots are hosting their first ever playoff game.

“It’s really nice being able to host the playoff game, but we want it to go farther than just hosting one game,” Dupuy said. “I don’t want this to be my last volleyball game.”

It’s amazing how one person can go from hating a sport to loving it, just as much if not more than the original sport she played.

After this season is over Dupuy hopes she can continue her volleyball career at the collegiate level, with dreams of playing for UL.

Brooke Dupuy is one of those athletes that will grace the hall of a high school and sometimes you just have to watch the magic that they produce. It’s remarkable that only two years ago she had never played volleyball, and now she has real aspirations of playing on the collegiate level. 

If you get a chance tonight head on out to Cecil Picard Elementar y at 6 p.m. and watch Dupuy and her teammates do what they do best now, play volleyball.

It won’t be hard to spot Dupuy either, she will be in the white jersey.