North Vermilion's Lady Patriot volleyball team gears up for another season

Coming off of a season in which the North Vermilion Lady Patriot volleyball team captured a record of 23-11, they are feeling confident heading into this upcoming season.
The 23-11 mark is the best record that the team has had since the program started just under eight years ago.
The volleyball program has improved each year under now four-year head coach Celie LeBlanc. Last year’s results were a culmination of the hard work that was put in to get the volleyball program on it’s feet.
“Last year we had kids that finally understood the game of volleyball,” said LeBlanc. “Before last year we had kids who were trying out in high school that had no experience playing volleyball. Last year our entire varsity had at least two years of experience. That was the biggest difference.
Heading into the 2014 season, the Lady Patriots will have to deal with the loss of almost everyone on their defense from last year.
On the positive side,the team is returning all of their setters and their hitters; which include the sisterly duo of sophomore Zoey and senior Lunden Graham, as well two other seniors Lanie Breaux and Sagen Broussard. Junior Claire Myers is also expected to play a large part on the Lady Patriot team.
Lunden Graham talked about the process of starting with a program in its infancy, and the transformation of the program into a legit contender.
“I’ve been here for five years,” Graham said. “I’ve been playing volleyball since I was seven, but over here it was a new program. “When I was in the eighth grade, we did not win any games, but we’ve progressed every year since. Now we are actual volleyball players.”
The Lady Patriots will have their work cut out for them, as they look to fill the void on defense, as well as trying to compete with the tough schools in their district. The versatility of the front row players may give North Vermilion exactly what they need on to be successul defensively.
The jamboree is on August 28,and the regular season starts September 2 against Westminister.
Every team has aspirations of winning a state championship, and the Lady Patriot team does as well, but they understand it’s a process.
“Our goal for this year is to take the next step to the state tournament,” admitted coach LeBlanc. “We want to make history and become the first volleyball team at North Vermilion to make it to the state tournament.”
The senior Graham knows this is her last hoorah with her team, and she wants to make it special.
“It’s my senior year, and I’m ready to go all out!” she said excitedly. I want us to take that next step; I think we can do it.”