North Vermilion to play host to its first volleyball playoff game

The North Vermilion volleyball team has only been in existence for six years, and after such a short time it is making its second trip to the state playoffs and hosting its first ever playoff game.

“This is big,” North Vermilion Head Coach Celie LeBlanc said. “All the credit goes to the girls. They are the ones that have worked so much to get us to this point and they deserve all the credit.”

NV finished the regular season with a 23-11 record. Which was good enough to be ranked 12th in the volleyball power rankings.

With all the buzz around this volleyball team, Coach LeBlanc is just trying to keep it business as usual.

“We just have to keep doing what we have been doing and it will get us the same results. Which is exactly what we want,” LeBlanc said.

The Lady Patriots are playing host to Lake Area New Tech tonight.

And there is a good chance they will have their hands full. LANT comes into this game winning six of its last seven games. 

It also finished the season 11-9.

“We can’t worry about them. We just have to do what we do best,” LeBlanc said. “We just have to stay in the gym and keep working hard, and so far the girls have done that.”

Coach LeBlanc is excited about all the progess this team has made in just a few short years. She mentioned how four years ago they were ranked 46th out of 48 school. 

In the years since they have improved every year, moving up from 46th to 23rd to 18th last season and 12th this season.

“It’s been hard work,” LeBlanc said. “We have definitely had our ups and downs, but it is starting to come together.”

The keys for victory according to LeBlanc is they have to keep the intensity high, which shouldn’t be hard since its hosting its first playoff game. 

She said they will also have to be aggressive at the net.

NV will host Lake Area New Tech tomorrow night at Cecil Picard Elementary at 6 p.m.