Lansing volleyball gets off to flying start

Two years removed from its first-ever state title, the Lansing volleyball team has continued to excel.

The Bobcats have burst out of the gates to begin the season, winning their first seven matches in IAC play, as of September 21. Not only have they impressed in their own league, the Bobcats have also stood tall against much larger schools in tournaments. 

At the Corning Volleyball Tournament, Lansing played Class AAA Ithaca twice: a 1-1 split in pool play and a hard-fought 2-0 loss in the championship. The following weekend at the Homer Fall Swing Varsity Tournament, they battled two more Class AAA teams in Section III, beating Liverpool 2-1 and falling to West Genesee 2-1 in the final. Head coach Nicole Lamie could not be more proud of the fight they’ve shown against incredibly stiff competition.

“They don’t want to back down from a challenge,” Lamie said. “We are battling with the bigger schools. We are battling for every point. We are pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone in order to achieve our individual but also our long-term goals.”

This year’s team is well-experienced with 14 of its 17 players upperclassmen. They also return the majority of last year’s roster, which is part of why they’ve started out so strong. Another big part is the amount of dedication they’ve put into the sport.

“It is such an exciting time to be a Lansing volleyball player,” Lamie said. “They are doing work outside of the season, whether it’s with me or whether they go and have individual lessons or they’re just playing volleyball in the backyard. Volleyball is in the front of their minds all the time… They have the talent, they have the skills, and they also have the mindset.”

The team’s mindset has been the biggest area that they focused on during the offseason, and it’s clearly paid off in dividends so far. 

“We’re all using the same language,” Lamie said. “We are all supporting each other on the sideline in practice just to make sure that we are always focused. And you know, if things don’t go our way, because volleyball is a game of momentum. It is a game of errors. We have to be able to step up and rise up above it and get back to doing what we know how to do. So that way we push through those difficult times together.”

Just three players remain from the 2023 state champion team: Jordan Brinkley, Kamryn Eastman, and Piper Mason. The senior trio of hitters are all reigning IAC All-Stars—and in Brinkley’s case, she’s also a reigning All-State selection—and are the engine that keeps the Bobcats prowling their way to victory after victory.

“We are a solid team when they are in,” Lamie said. “Whether it’s been through the high school season, in the offseason, they have put so much time in to better their game. They have so much pressure on themselves, but they want to do it for their teammates. They don’t want to let anybody down, and they’re just really rising up as seniors. They’re not settling. They’re working hard. They are the core of our team right now.”

The Bobcats’ hitters can’t rack up any kills without their setters, and they have a standout duo in that department with senior Leilani Drake and sophomore Alyssa Johnston. Lamie has shifted the way they run their offset offense and front row defense, and the two setters have risen to the challenge.

“There are times in tough matches when we need a reset and Leilani won’t set the first round,” Lamie said. “She will pass and serve-receive instead. She’s a very flexible player and really pushes herself. And Alyssa Johnson as a sophomore, I saw a lot of growth from her last year, and this year from the go she is working hard and she just doesn’t stop.”

Lansing’s liberos and defensive specialists have also impressed this year, namely sophomore Isis Peters and junior Chloe Case.

“We have so much talent defensively,” Lamie said. “Honestly I feel defense wins games, so I’m feeling really, really strong and confident with them.”

The Bobcats are aiming to reclaim some postseason glory after losing in the IAC Championship to Whitney Point and bowing out of the Section IV Class B tournament in the quarterfinals last year. If they can keep up what’s been a phenomenal start, it’s sure to be another special season for Lansing volleyball.

“We have to do what we practice every day,” Lamie said. “We really have to stay consistent, and we need to continue to work hard. We want to play those teams. We want to play the best teams in our league, in our class, in the section, in the state, to be able to push through and hopefully do well in sectionals, and we’ll see from there.”