Brenna Berker

Age 17 | School Brawley | Grade Senior

This year’s Brawley varsity volleyball squad has something to it that previous editions have lacked: an air of uncertainty.

Various internal factors, when coupled with the rise of a strong cadre of hungry local challengers, have conspired to make Wildcat dominance of the Imperial Valley League feel like much less of a foregone conclusion than in years past.

But whatever waves may be rocking the Brawley Ship of State, there are still plenty of capable deckhands with the will and wherewithal to steer the Wildcats safely into port. Senior hitter Brenna Berker is one of those.

Berker is an essential component of a Wildcat attack that’s still finding itself at this early juncture, but has begun to shape up over Brawley’s past five games (all wins).

The Wildcats — while blessed with general depth — do not have an overabundance of frontline bombers and Berker has become something of an ol’ reliable on the outside, where she transitioned this year after spending the majority of her sophomore and junior years parked in the middle.

Berker is a big fan of her role, deriving a whole lot of pleasure and satisfaction from a clean smash, but she said a big part of her development has been learning when to rein things in.

“I’ve gotten better as I’ve learned to look at spots, so this year I’ve mainly just tried to hit the spots that are open,” Berker said. “I’m better at placing it now. … A kill is a point. Sometimes you can’t [smash it].”

Berker’s value to the Wildcats was thoroughly demonstrated in their Tuesday win over the Calexico Bulldogs, particularly in the first set, when she had a series of three kills to help put Brawley ahead in a game they seemed primed to lose, stabilizing them at their wobbliest.

On the whole, she feels that this year’s team has the potential to keep the Wildcats’ streak of IVL titles and is determined to do her part to make it happen.