BRODHEAD - Brodhead senior Cassie Wymer subscribes to the theory that it's better to give than to receive.
Wymer has developed a niche as a setter that has helped guide the Cardinals to its first state tournament appearance in program history.
Brodhead (39-5) went 10-0 in the Rock Valley South to win its first conference title in 14 years. The Cardinals will play 2006 state champion Waukesha Catholic Memorial (37-11) in a WIAA Division 2 state semifinal at 4 p.m. Friday at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
"After the regional we won, we knew we could take it all the way," Wymer said.
Wymer is one of a quartet of four-year starters, including three-time first-team all-conference middle hitter Kristen Ruchti and senior outside hitters Jordan Riese and Courtney Mielke, who transferred from Orfordville Parkview before last season.
The Cardinals aren't satisfied with just making the program's first state trip after beating Madison Edgewood in four games to capture the Fort Atkinson sectional title.
"We can't overlook the fact we are going to state," Riese said. "We are there for a reason. We just need to go in with a positive attitude and do what we need to do to win.
"We have kind of been underrated. It feels good to prove other people wrong who didn't think we would make it this far. The pressure is really not off because you still want to win."
Wymer started playing volleyball in seventh grade and became the setter for her club team. She took over the setter position as a freshman and has been a catalyst jump-starting the Cardinals' offense ever since. The key to being a top setter revolves around timing and court awareness.
"I think it's probably knowing the strengths of your hitters and knowing where to put the ball," Wymer said.
The Cardinals' hitters haven't had to do much guessing about where the set is going since Wymer is adept at hitting her target and has developed a rapport with hitters.
"She's quick," Brodhead coach Eric Ebensperger said. "She's athletic. She gets to just about everything. She gets the ball off quick."
If the Cardinals can get by Catholic Memorial, a state title match with the Waupun-Rice Lake winner awaits. Waupun, last year's state runner-up, has won five of the last seven titles.
"The phone and e-mails haven't stopped for me since Sunday," Ebensperger said. "I hope the girls don't go in there like a deer in headlights since we have never been there before. We don't want to be done. We will play our hearts out and see what happens."
Wymer has developed a niche as a setter that has helped guide the Cardinals to its first state tournament appearance in program history.
Brodhead (39-5) went 10-0 in the Rock Valley South to win its first conference title in 14 years. The Cardinals will play 2006 state champion Waukesha Catholic Memorial (37-11) in a WIAA Division 2 state semifinal at 4 p.m. Friday at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
"After the regional we won, we knew we could take it all the way," Wymer said.
Wymer is one of a quartet of four-year starters, including three-time first-team all-conference middle hitter Kristen Ruchti and senior outside hitters Jordan Riese and Courtney Mielke, who transferred from Orfordville Parkview before last season.
The Cardinals aren't satisfied with just making the program's first state trip after beating Madison Edgewood in four games to capture the Fort Atkinson sectional title.
"We can't overlook the fact we are going to state," Riese said. "We are there for a reason. We just need to go in with a positive attitude and do what we need to do to win.
"We have kind of been underrated. It feels good to prove other people wrong who didn't think we would make it this far. The pressure is really not off because you still want to win."
Wymer started playing volleyball in seventh grade and became the setter for her club team. She took over the setter position as a freshman and has been a catalyst jump-starting the Cardinals' offense ever since. The key to being a top setter revolves around timing and court awareness.
"I think it's probably knowing the strengths of your hitters and knowing where to put the ball," Wymer said.
The Cardinals' hitters haven't had to do much guessing about where the set is going since Wymer is adept at hitting her target and has developed a rapport with hitters.
"She's quick," Brodhead coach Eric Ebensperger said. "She's athletic. She gets to just about everything. She gets the ball off quick."
If the Cardinals can get by Catholic Memorial, a state title match with the Waupun-Rice Lake winner awaits. Waupun, last year's state runner-up, has won five of the last seven titles.
"The phone and e-mails haven't stopped for me since Sunday," Ebensperger said. "I hope the girls don't go in there like a deer in headlights since we have never been there before. We don't want to be done. We will play our hearts out and see what happens."
