Leah Johnson doesn't recall specifically mentioning "NCAA Tournament" in her introduction to the Illinois State volleyball players in June 2017.
Of all the things the newly hired Redbird coach said that day, one word stood out.
"I think that's what's got us this far is being so mentally tough and communicating with each other and really trusting the process ... trusting her and trusting the new techniques and the process that we're going through."
Johnson called it "blind faith" and said without it, her team likely would not be playing in the NCAA Tournament on Friday.