Lansing volleyball hitting stride

Lansing volleyball has gone from not playing at all to excelling on the court in a few short months. The Bobcats are 6-1 this season so far, including their first win over Section IV powerhouse Trumansburg since 2012. Everything is clicking for Lansing, and the team’s seven seniors are enjoying their final season.

The experience of the team is likely part of what’s driving Lansing to the top of the IAC leaderboards this season, as there are only four players on the roster who will be returning next year. In the mind of head coach Nicole Lamie, the success was thanks to the team taking advantage of an opportunity.

“I really feel that the team is feeling very lucky that we’re even able to play the season,” Lamie said. “Everyone is healthy. Not having a season in the fall really motivated these athletes to not waste any moment in the spring.”

This comes after an extended offseason in which the team was unable to truly play volleyball with each other, even in practice. Lamie detailed the restrictions the team faced in the fall while volleyball was considered a high-risk sport.

“Our workouts were outside, and we were told we could not share any equipment,” Lamie said. “Everybody had to bring their own balls. So, we couldn’t even volley. We only could really have a volleyball-focused boot camp every other day.”

Once approval for full practice was given last month, the team snapped right back into competition form.

“We were really ready to play early on in that first week,” Lamie said. “The girls are so motivated. They understand how the season is, for the seniors, their last opportunity to play and in the fall, that was taken away from them. They really have stepped up. And we said on day three, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re probably ready for competition’ because they were just so focused and motivated to do well.”

They were certainly ready. The team has been flourishing after a loss to Trumansburg in the second match of the season and, as mentioned earlier, were able to even up the series against the Blue Raiders during the current five-game win streak. Lamie discussed taking down Trumansburg, who had been undefeated in league play for the past nine years.

“It was very fulfilling for me as a varsity coach as it was my first time beating them,” she said. “For a lot of these players, it was their first time beating them, and they were just ready. They were ready for every point. They were ready for the next serve. They were so they were so focused. They knew what they had to do and they went out and they got it done.”

Lamie also touched on the loss to Trumansburg that sparked the current run from the team.

“We had a conversation on the bus on the way home that now is the time,” Lamie said. “We were on pause for such a long time with the future unknown. We discussed as a team that we will learn from it. We will use it. Now’s the time to keep pushing forward and be ready for the next one.”

Unlike other sports that have been taking place this year at the high school level, there will be a postseason in volleyball. An IAC Championship is scheduled, giving Lansing a goal to look toward heading into its final three games of the season, starting with Trumansburg on April 7.

“We’re looking at the IAC game,” Lamie said. “We’re going to play our best from here on out, not taking any point for granted or any match for granted. We’re looking at our matchup against Trumansburg to break the tie. We’re looking ahead to the IAC game.”

That goal of an IAC Championship was evident from the first practice from both Lamie and the players.

“I really get my inspiration and drive from the players,” she said. “It was very difficult to come back after such a long pause. A lot of things not only happened in our nation, a lot of things happened for me personally, and, at first, I was very nervous about it. But as soon as we got in the gym, I saw where we were at. I knew where they wanted to go, and there was no looking back.”

It’s been a season to remember for the Lansing Bobcats. Of the team’s six wins this season, four have been in straight sets. With a crucial match against Trumansburg coming up, Lansing is looking to close out the season strong.