BRODHEAD - Before every match, Brodhead senior Carly Mohns and some of her teammates sing and dance to Katy Perry's "Roar."
"Not all of us want to hear it, but we let Carly play it," Brodhead senior outside hitter Rachel Heller said. "I love the song 'Dream On' by Aerosmith."
Determining the pre-match music may be the only thing the Cardinals have to debate this season. Brodhead (29-5) rolls into the WIAA Division 3 state semifinal at 1 p.m. Friday against Regis in Green Bay. They are planning on making the crowd roar at the Resch Center. It's Brodhead's first state tournament appearance since 2008.
"Obviously, we want to go up there and represent Brodhead really well," Mohns said. "We want to bring home the gold ball and show them what we can do."
Overcoming adversity
Last year, due to a rash of torn anterior cruciate ligament injuries, the Cardinals had just two players returning as starters. The playing time and experience some of the younger players received last year was a springboard to this year's success. Mohns and Amanda Pickel missed most of the season due to ACL injuries.
"Last year when we had all of the injuries, they still believed in themselves," Brodhead coach Erin Kammerer said. "It didn't pay off last year. This year is their payoff for a season that was detrimental to us."
Bring on Regis
For many players, the Cardinals run to state wasn't improbable, but it did take a different path. Brodhead didn't have to play No. 3 seed Deerfield in a regional championship or No. 1 seed Cuba City in a sectional title match. However, the Cardinals had to beat Laconia in the regional final and Wisconsin Heights in the sectional final. Each team that may think they are a team of destiny can be dealt a crushing blow with a stunning loss. The Cardinals have taken care of business this year winning 13 matches in three sets.
"That is why I'm proud," Kammerer said. "We have won so many matches in three games. We talked all season that there is always going to be a Big Foot, but they just might have a different name on their jersey."
The next challenge for the Cardinals is Regis (35-5). Regis is back at state for the first time since 2007 and this is the school's fourth appearance including three straight 2002-04. The Ramblers were the state runner-up in Division 3 in 2004 and runner-up in Division 4 in 2003.
"They have a big hitter and great blocker," Kammerer said of Regis. "They do a great job of blocking. We will have to be really focused and cover our hitters. Everyone on their team serves better than 90 percent."
The Cardinals rely on two dominant hitters of their own in Mohns and Heller. Mohns averages 10.3 kills per match and Heller averages 8.1 kills per match. Mohns leads the team in kills (352) and blocks (84) and Heller leads the team in digs (271).
"Carly and Rachel are both good athletes," Kammerer said. "They are very coachable. They have that desire to win I haven't had the chance to coach before. They want to show they are leaders and not just by talking."
Heller looks forward to making a mark and ending the season at state.
"I wake up every single day overwhelmed by it," Heller said of the Cardinals' opportunity to play in the state tournament. "It probably won't sink in until I'm at the Resch Center. It's definitely been a roller-coaster."
Similarities to 2008
The last time the Cardinals played in the state tournament, Kammerer was an assistant coach and junior setter Payton Wright was a fan cheering on her role models in the stands at the Resch Center. Now, Kammerer is the head coach and Wright will be on the court in the middle of each rally.
"I remember looking up to all of those girls and saying, 'I want to do that someday and now we get to,'" Wright said.
In 2008, Brodhead was led by a team that honed their skills playing club volleyball together for several years.
"The 2008 team didn't have a weak spot," Kammerer said. "This year's team has the same skills, but the difference is they had to see their hard work pay off before they believed they could get here (state)."
Brodhead senior Jordan Halvorsen said she never thought the Cardinals would be at state.
"We have always had the skill," Halvorsen said. "We finally put the heart into it. I think the big thing is we came together as a team."
Brodhead has a pep assembly scheduled for Thursday and then the team will head to Green Bay.
"It will be a big arena," Wright said. "We have to stay calm and not get overwhelmed by all of the people. It's good to know we have people with experience who can keep their cool in tough situations."
"Not all of us want to hear it, but we let Carly play it," Brodhead senior outside hitter Rachel Heller said. "I love the song 'Dream On' by Aerosmith."
Determining the pre-match music may be the only thing the Cardinals have to debate this season. Brodhead (29-5) rolls into the WIAA Division 3 state semifinal at 1 p.m. Friday against Regis in Green Bay. They are planning on making the crowd roar at the Resch Center. It's Brodhead's first state tournament appearance since 2008.
"Obviously, we want to go up there and represent Brodhead really well," Mohns said. "We want to bring home the gold ball and show them what we can do."
Overcoming adversity
Last year, due to a rash of torn anterior cruciate ligament injuries, the Cardinals had just two players returning as starters. The playing time and experience some of the younger players received last year was a springboard to this year's success. Mohns and Amanda Pickel missed most of the season due to ACL injuries.
"Last year when we had all of the injuries, they still believed in themselves," Brodhead coach Erin Kammerer said. "It didn't pay off last year. This year is their payoff for a season that was detrimental to us."
Bring on Regis
For many players, the Cardinals run to state wasn't improbable, but it did take a different path. Brodhead didn't have to play No. 3 seed Deerfield in a regional championship or No. 1 seed Cuba City in a sectional title match. However, the Cardinals had to beat Laconia in the regional final and Wisconsin Heights in the sectional final. Each team that may think they are a team of destiny can be dealt a crushing blow with a stunning loss. The Cardinals have taken care of business this year winning 13 matches in three sets.
"That is why I'm proud," Kammerer said. "We have won so many matches in three games. We talked all season that there is always going to be a Big Foot, but they just might have a different name on their jersey."
The next challenge for the Cardinals is Regis (35-5). Regis is back at state for the first time since 2007 and this is the school's fourth appearance including three straight 2002-04. The Ramblers were the state runner-up in Division 3 in 2004 and runner-up in Division 4 in 2003.
"They have a big hitter and great blocker," Kammerer said of Regis. "They do a great job of blocking. We will have to be really focused and cover our hitters. Everyone on their team serves better than 90 percent."
The Cardinals rely on two dominant hitters of their own in Mohns and Heller. Mohns averages 10.3 kills per match and Heller averages 8.1 kills per match. Mohns leads the team in kills (352) and blocks (84) and Heller leads the team in digs (271).
"Carly and Rachel are both good athletes," Kammerer said. "They are very coachable. They have that desire to win I haven't had the chance to coach before. They want to show they are leaders and not just by talking."
Heller looks forward to making a mark and ending the season at state.
"I wake up every single day overwhelmed by it," Heller said of the Cardinals' opportunity to play in the state tournament. "It probably won't sink in until I'm at the Resch Center. It's definitely been a roller-coaster."
Similarities to 2008
The last time the Cardinals played in the state tournament, Kammerer was an assistant coach and junior setter Payton Wright was a fan cheering on her role models in the stands at the Resch Center. Now, Kammerer is the head coach and Wright will be on the court in the middle of each rally.
"I remember looking up to all of those girls and saying, 'I want to do that someday and now we get to,'" Wright said.
In 2008, Brodhead was led by a team that honed their skills playing club volleyball together for several years.
"The 2008 team didn't have a weak spot," Kammerer said. "This year's team has the same skills, but the difference is they had to see their hard work pay off before they believed they could get here (state)."
Brodhead senior Jordan Halvorsen said she never thought the Cardinals would be at state.
"We have always had the skill," Halvorsen said. "We finally put the heart into it. I think the big thing is we came together as a team."
Brodhead has a pep assembly scheduled for Thursday and then the team will head to Green Bay.
"It will be a big arena," Wright said. "We have to stay calm and not get overwhelmed by all of the people. It's good to know we have people with experience who can keep their cool in tough situations."
