Brynn Casady played numerous positions this season for Spoon River College volleyball team
Brynn Casady just wanted to play a little more volleyball.
After having the time of her life playing for Burlington High School, Casady wanted to test her skills at the next level.
Casady, a defensive specialist, spent last season at Black Hawk College in Moline, Illinois.
After a less than memorable year there, Casady transferred to Spoon Rover College in Canton, Illinois, where she got the opportunity not only to play, but try her hand at multiple positions.
While the season didn't go exactly as planned, it was an experience Casady will forever remember.
"We had an all right season," Casady said. "We didn't have very many girls on the team and so I got to move around and play different positions, which was fun. It was a little better season than last year. We had to end the season early because we had two or three girls get hurt and we only had six girls left, so that was a little rough."
Casady got the opportunity to not only play defensive specialist and libero this season, she also got to play a little outside hitter, something she hadn't done since her high school days with head coach Amber Taeger.
That alone made it all worthwhile for Casady.
"I got to hit a little bit from the back row, but it was a lot of fun playing outside hitter again," said Casady, a 5-foot-7 sophomore psychology major. "I played defensive specialist through the rotation most matches, but it was fun getting some reps at outside hitter again."
Casady finished with 23 assists, 36 kills, four aces, eight blocks and 337 digs in 35 matches. "I have never really been a front-row player. I have always been a defensive specialist."
Casady said the lessons she learned at Burlington under Taeger, Wil Wiemann and Jacob Falls prepared her to play at the college level.
"I played on some pretty good teams in high school," Casady said. "Being on a really competitive team, they helped me learn and grow and want to play at the next level. They really helped me grow and progress as a player."
Casady is contemplating her future as she finishes work on her A.A. degree at Spoon River College. She is keeping her options open.
"I'm debating it right now," Casady said of continuing to play volleyball. "Who knows? I am willing to go anywhere my talent takes me and I have a chance to pursue my major and play volleyball. We will see."
Matt Levins is a sports reporter for the USA Today Network in Burlington, Iowa, who has covered local sports for 32 years at The Hawk Eye. Reach him at mlevins@thehawkeye.com.
This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Casady get opportunity of a lifetime with Spoon River College volleyball
