'Jills fall in 3 games

The North Vermilion Lady Patriots advanced to the regional round of the Division III volleyball playoffs for the second straight year after defeating Patterson Thursday.
North Vermilion earned a 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-23) victory against the ’Jills.
“It takes a whole team,” North Vermilion coach Celie LeBlanc said. “I was really proud of the way we moved around the court quicker than we have all season.”
Patterson led the majority of the first and third sets, but due to unforced errors, they were unable to win the sets.
“My team played their hearts out just like they (North Vermilion) did,” Patterson head coach Chasity Fontenot said. “Our mental game killed us. When we get down, we’re done.”
In the first set tied at 5, North Vermilion (21-17) went on a 9-1 run to take the lead at 14-6. The ’Jills responded with a run to cut the gap but fell short.
North Vermilion came out in the second set with adjustments on how to attack Patterson’s blockers, LeBlanc said.
“We talked about moving our sets around,” she said. “We wanted to work them more, and hopefully they would tire out. That gave us the opportunity to see holes.”
In the third set, the ’Jills were down 8-3 to begin the set but fought back to tie the set at 10.
North Vermilion extended their lead to 24-18, and Patterson went on a run, but a ball hit squarely on the back line sent the ’Jills home for the season.
“The game came down to the very last point, and North Vermillion placed the ball in the best spot that they could have,” Fontenot said.
In the loss, Patterson had 14 aces, led by five from Arian Grogan. Grogan added three points, six kills and two digs.
Other top contributors included Makayla Ruiz, two aces, two points, five kills and one dig; Jazmin Evans, four aces, four points and seven digs; Tamia Washington, two aces, three points and three kills; Gaylen Grogan, two kills and three blocks; and Nia Broussard, one point and six assists.
North Vermilion advances to play Lutcher in the regional round Monday.
Patterson, which made the playoffs this year for the first time since 2006, finished its season with a 16-12 mark.
Thursday’s game was the last for Patterson seniors Evans, Jasmine Roberson, Nyria Robinson and Tye Williams.
“My seniors have amazed me over the past few months of being with them,” Fontenot said. They have become responsible young adults and have worked for everything they earned this year. More importantly than any skill that they have learned on the court, they have learned one of the biggest life lessons that there is. Nothing worthwhile is given to you in life. If you want it, you have to work for it, and earn it. Jazmin Evans, Jasmine Roberson, Nyria Robinson, and Tye Williams will definitely be missed — but never forgotten. They are four individuals that have helped us achieve goals that Patterson hasn’t done in years.”
As for the future, Fontenot said her team will continue to improve.
“My junior class will, no doubt in my mind, take on their senior roles and lead us in the right directions,” Fontenot said.
Additional reporting by The Daily Review.