Carson Brickey

Senior setter was Kellam’s driving force on 19-0 run

VIRGINIA BEACH — Kellam kept alive its undefeated regular season with three five-set wins, but Carson Brickey’s favorite was a sweep over then-No. 3 Norfolk Christian.

In what Brickey thought was the team’s best match, top-ranked Kellam won 25-20, 25-22, 27-25 in October — right in the middle of the Knights’ 19-0 start.

Later in the postseason, Kellam finally fell against eventual state champion James River in the Class 6 Region A final and dropped its final match to Ocean Lakes to finish 19-2.

But Brickey’s steady setting stood apart as a crucial driving force behind Kellam’s unprecedented success, and the senior is the 2019 All-Tidewater boys volleyball Player of the Year.

“It was great,” Brickey said of the season. “We had confidence, so we kept with it, kept winning and wanting to keep the streak alive. We played our hardest definitely.”

Brickey, who grew up watching his older sister play volleyball, began participating competitively at 13 and quickly slid into the setting role.

“We had a good 14s team, we went on to play nationals and did well then,” Brickey said. “I found out I was enjoying it and having fun and doing well and competing with other players.”

At Kellam, Brickey developed a bond with Kyle Goff, Riley McRandle and Danny Nunez as that core lifted the program into elite status.

“We got to know each other, so we knew what were gonna expect every time we stepped on the court,” Brickey said. “Kyle, Riley and Danny, they were gonna get set the most, and it helped we played two or three years with them. They’re good players and we relied on each other.”

Coming into his final season, Brickey focused on one major aspect to his setting.

“Probably just consistency,” he said. “Trying to get the same sets for my hitters every single time so they know what’s coming and they can work on hitting that ball.”

And with the sets locked in, Kellam was at its best when staying loose.

“I think,” Brickey said, “that’s when we play our best is when we’re taking it seriously, but we’re also joking around and having fun.”