Brynn Kirsch is highlighting why 鈥榙efense can do cool and impressive stuff too鈥� out on the volleyball court
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (BVM) — With one year left of her high school career, Brynn Kirsch is making it a goal of hers to get people to pay attention to the defensive side of volleyball.
鈥淚 want people to notice defense a little bit more here,鈥� Kirsch said. 鈥淚 want people to acknowledge defense a little more and know all the good things these libero do and all those DS鈥檚 do and show their impact.鈥�
The S.F. Lincoln junior libero and University of Kansas verbal commit began playing volleyball back when she was 12 years old. However, it wasn鈥檛 until later that she found her love for defense and the position that would lead to the opportunity to play collegiately.
A few years ago as she was about to enter high school, one of her coaches gave her some advice. Kirsch was told she would never be tall enough to play at the next level as a hitter, but the coach pointed out that she was good defensively and had fast reflexes. The suggestion was made to Kirsch that she move to libero and focus on her defense.
鈥淚 remember I was so mad about that, but then I thought about it and I found myself falling in love with that aspect of the game,鈥� Kirsch said. 鈥� A lot of people who don鈥檛 know volleyball see them more as background players and I kind of like the idea of being able to do cool things without being a big hitter. 鈥� Defense can do cool and impressive stuff too.”
Her newfound love for defense also helped fuel her drive to be the best she could possibly be. It also was at this time she began to really think about what she wanted her future in volleyball to look like.
鈥淚 think I鈥檝e always taken it seriously, but then I think it got to a certain age,鈥� Kirsch said. 鈥淚t must鈥檝e been 15 where I was like, 鈥極K, I think I can actually get myself to be good at this and I want to push myself really hard and I think that was the year I decided what goals I wanted to reach for.鈥欌��
With the motivation to play at the next level and a newfound love for the defensive side of volleyball, Kirsch took a huge step forward last year as a sophomore. As a freshman, she had not been able to play libero, but when a new coaching staff came in her sophomore year, she was able to earn the starting libero position.
鈥淚 earned my libero spot and that was a big step for me. Also being thrown into that defensive leadership position,鈥� Kirsch said. 鈥淭hat was a big step for me because I was going from not playing at all to playing and leading the back row where all the other defensive players were seniors.鈥�
Kirsch helped lead the Patriots to a state tournament berth and was named second team all-state. It was also around this time that people started to take notice.
In fact, only minutes after midnight on the first day that colleges could reach out to high schoolers, Kansas emailed Kirsch about coming to play for the Jayhawks. Although there were other suitors, Kansas was always the one that stood out.
鈥淚 just remember them being there from the start and I think once I finally got an offer from them that really put it into perspective for me,鈥� Kirsch said. 鈥淚t was kind of surreal for a while because I never thought I would get to this point.鈥澛�
Although she hasn鈥檛 officially signed on the dotted line, to Kirsch, 鈥淚t feels like it鈥檚 already official to me.鈥�
Committing back in October has also helped Kirsch push herself even more. Although she is not someone who needs outside motivation to work hard each and every day both on and off the court, having that title of Kansas commit meant something to her.
鈥淚鈥檝e noticed in the gym when I鈥檓 practicing, when I鈥檓 playing that鈥檚 on my mind,鈥� Kirsch said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just like I want to be ready when I get there so I think it鈥檚 definitely brought me to a whole new level of my game.
鈥淚 think ever since then there鈥檚 been that feeling where it鈥檚 like hey people know you鈥檝e signed there and now it鈥檚 time to prove you belong there every day.鈥�
Lincoln would need that out of its star libero as it tried to navigate a season during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the leadership skills she honed last season as a sophomore, Kirsch helped her team stay focused at the task at hand.
鈥淭here were a lot of challenges we had to take on as a team and I think we took it one game at a time,鈥� Kirsch said.
Kirsch and a fellow starter missed four games and underclassmen had to step up to fill holes created by COVID-19 throughout the season, which did not go the way Lincoln would have hoped. But Kirsch was still proud of her teammates for what they were able to do.
鈥淭here were a lot of girls that just had to go out onto the court who had never seen varsity time before and they all performed really well,鈥� Kirsch said. 鈥淭hat was awesome to watch.鈥�
Now as she looks to her senior year, Kirsch could not be more excited. Her younger sister Taryn will be entering high school and the hope is they will be able to play together for one season. Kirsch also has aspirations to be named player of the year, an award she had missed the cut on this year.
鈥淚鈥檓 super excited for next year,鈥� Kirsch said. 鈥淭here will be a lot of youth on the team for sure but a lot of competitive youth at the same time and girls that are going to learn quickly. I鈥檓 definitely excited for that and I know we will do good things next year.鈥�
The Patriots will look to make it back to the state tournament and Kirsch鈥檚 senior leadership will play a big role in that. She is up to the task and always ready to take charge and lead by example
鈥淵ou can have bad days and bad games,鈥� Kirsch said, 鈥渂ut I think overall you鈥檒l never catch me having a day where I鈥檓 not working my hardest or where I鈥檓 not being the most competitive I can be.鈥�
