Entering a new school and a new volleyball program, sophomore right-side hitter Liliana Brachle looks to continue making an impact this season.
Brachle first started playing volleyball at 15 and immediately fell in love with the sport. She currently plays both club volleyball in Windsor and at KO, as well as at her previous high school.
Joining KO from Plainville High School this year, Brachle’s impact, along with that of other players, has been felt throughout the program, as the volleyball team boasts an even more impressive record of 10-2 compared to last year’s NEPSAC quarterfinalists. Brachle’s height also plays into her strengths, not only on her club team but also at KO.
“I’m a right-side hitter, as well as a hitter in general, I guess,” said Brachle. “But as a right-side hitter, it’s very important for blocking because you’ll be up against the main hitter on the other side. I think my height definitely helps with that.” This plays into the blocking and height strengths KO has elsewhere on the team, making the Wyverns a force at the net.
Brachle’s height and blocking strengths were on full display at Choate during their Dig Pink game, where she blocked crucial hits from Choate left-side hitters and contributed well defensively in a resounding 3-1 win for the Wyverns. “I don’t know, I just thought I played my best there,” Brachle said. “I was blocking the hitters a lot, and defensively, I feel like I played pretty well too.”
Brachle, like many others on the volleyball team, believes this team has the talent and depth to contend for and potentially win a NEPSAC title. Recent results have also shown that, including a 7-0 start to the season. “I can’t really speak much about last year,” she said, “but I just know we’re pretty strong, and with the way we performed against other really strong teams and then being able to beat them just shows us how good we are.”
Brachle is striving to improve not just her skills but also her leadership as the season winds down. “As an upperclassman next year, I want to start stepping into a leadership role and become a bigger leader, whether I’m a captain or not,” she said. “I just want to help others improve and be a good teammate—and that’s the same with this season too.”
As the season begins to close and the NEPSAC playoffs beckon, Brachle and the KO varsity volleyball team are ready to win.
