BRODHEAD — The Cardinals spent much of the 2021 season ranked among the top teams in the state in Division 3, finishing with a regional championship 36-8 overall and 8-1 in the Rock Valley. All the success came off a trip to state the spring before in the 2020 alternate fall volleyball season.
With great success comes great players, and Brodhead has just that. Despite losing eight seniors — which included all-conference players and leaders off the court — the Cardinals bring back a slew of top-end talent.
“The seven seniors left a big hole to fill with their leadership and team-first attitude,” said coach Erin Kammerer, head coach of 13 years.
Senior Abbie Dix was the Rock Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2021, earning all-state honors in the process. She’ll play for UW-Whitewater next fall. Alexis Kammerer, Erin’s daughter, has been the setter since her freshman year and was also a first-team all-conference and all-state selection last year. She has collegiate offers for after high school, but is currently undecided on her future plans. The two stars are flanked by second-team all-conference hitter Mckenna Young and honorable mention hitter Addison Yates. Kaidynce Bevars, the team’s libero, returns as co-captain, as does UW-Green Bay-bound hitter Kirsten Fish.
“Our team strength this season will be experience and ability to put the put the ball away from several different hitters. Our returners are persistent and continue to grow. With the experience of playoffs on our side, we will continue to buckle down and push to get better at every opportunity,” Erin Kammerer said. “Our seniors will be expected to use their experience as an advantage and lead both on and off the court. Dix will continue to be one of our go-to girls. She has the ability to control the net and her quick attack is difficult to stop.
“Alexis is like another coach on the floor and will have several options for attackers to keep the defense off balance, by running a quick offense. Fish will be a huge offensive threat and defensive block. With her height and increased aggressiveness, she will be another player to watch in our conference.”
Young hits with power and is versatile, while Yates herself is no stranger to the court and can play at the net or in the back.
Bevars is a vocal leader that is expected to see more rotations in the lineup. “She leads by example and will be expected to own the backrow with her ‘all-out’ attitude,” coach Kammerer said. “One of our biggest challenges will be how we perform under pressure and maintain a high level of persistence. Mental toughness, persistence, and team chemistry will be a focus to achieve long-term success.”
McFarland, in its final year in the Rock Valley before swapping spots in the Badger Conference with Monroe, is a top program with outstanding players and finished 2021 with a trip to state. Kammerer said Edgerton and Big Foot also have great programs with competitive athletes, and could also challenge for RVC supremacy.
