LANSING, N.Y.—The Lansing High School varsity girls volleyball team secured the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B state championship Sunday, defeating Westhill High School 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-17) to finish off a dominant 35-5-6 season.
Lansing beat Southwestern High School and Putnam Valley High School in the tournament to advance to the finals, also both by 3-0 scores, meaning the Bobcats didn’t lose a set during the entire tournament. Highlights of the championship match against Westhill can be found here. This is Lansing’s first state championship ever in girls volleyball.
Head Coach Nicole Lamie said the team was led by its seven seniors, including four-year team member Kayla Palmer, who used their postseason experience to maintain composure during the tournament. When the seniors were sophomores, Lamie said, the team had brought home a sectionals title that helped give them a taste of a more high-pressure environment.
“This team has been working towards this for a very long time,” Lamie said. “I’m just so happy for them, so proud of them.”
Lamie, in her eighth year as head coach, credited the team for working outside of practice, with some players finding ways to play volleyball year-round to stay ready for competition.
That level of preparation clearly paid off, as the Bobcats overwhelmed their opponents in each tournament round after a first-round bye. The championship victory was sealed thanks to a point from senior Emma Best.
Despite the dominance, Lamie said the team wasn’t convinced they were going to win going into the championship match, adding that the Bobcats felt as if they had been a bit overlooked among the contenders in the 11-team field. but she could tell the team felt ready to meet the moment after months of preparation and strategizing with coaches and among each other.
That was, in part, thanks to the team’s leaders, several of whom won’t be returning since they will be graduating in the spring.
“It’s sad to think about that next year, they won’t be walking in in August with me,” Lamie said, growing emotional. “But they have given so much to this program, I can’t thank them enough.”
Next year is next year, though. For the time being, the team is going to enjoy its win, punctuated by the Lansing Central School District announcing their triumphant return from Glen Falls, where the tournament was held, so supporters could welcome them home.
“We’re just going to try to keep going and compete at the highest level we can,” Lamie said. “We just want to relish this, but prepare for the next season as well.”
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