Ceci Blanchard returned to her alma mater and joined Tim Doyle’s staff as an assistant coach in January of 2023. Her arrival has helped lead the Rams back to the top tier of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
In addition to back-to-back winning seasons, VCU has forged an impressive 29-7 record in league play since the start of the 2023 campaign. VCU's 2024 squad won its final 14 A-10 matches on the way to a school-record 16-2 conference mark. Since 2023, VCU players have captured seven All-Atlantic 10 Conference awards, including Jasmine Knight, who collected a pair of First Team honors, and was named AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention.
VCU's success on the court notwithstanding, the Rams also recorded a 3.86 GPA during the 2025 Spring semester, the highest in program history.
Prior to her return to Richmond, Blanchard (nee Aragao) spent the 2022 campaign as an assistant coach at Buffalo, where she helped the Bulls to a 19-win season and the first MAC semifinal appearance in program history. UB also received a bid to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), the school's first postseason berth. Working closely with Buffalo's setters, Blanchard helped spur the development of First Team All-MAC selection Mandy Leigh. She also spearheaded the Bulls' international recruiting efforts, which produced several signings during her season on staff.
Previously, Blanchard served as a graduate assistant for VCU during the 2021 season and aided an 18-win campaign. Her efforts with setter Katrina Davis helped the freshman garner an All-Atlantic 10 Conference Second Team honor in her first collegiate season. That year, Blanchard also was named a recipient of the AVCA’s Diversity Award.
A native of Recife, Brazil, Blanchard played professionally in the First League of Slovenia, France and Switzerland. She led Calcit Kamnik (Slovenia) to its first CEV Champions League appearance in 2015 and was named the top setter of the Slovenian Cup.
A four-year starter at setter, Blanchard ranks third all-time at VCU in assists (3,932), fourth in assists per set (9.71) and seventh in blocks (370). Blanchard was named First Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference and VaSID All-State Second Team in 2014 after she averaged 9.83 assists and 0.88 blocks per set. As a freshman, she helped steer the Rams to the CAA Championship Match, and was named to the league’s All-Tournament and All-Rookie Teams, as well as VaSID All-State Second Team. The Rams posted an 85-44 record during her career.
Blanchard earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Education from VCU in 2015. She is married to former VCU Baseball standout pitcher Matt Blanchard, who helped the Rams to a 2015 NCAA Regional Championship and Atlantic 10 Conference title.
