A college coach recruiting Warren setter GabriElle Brewer wanted some insight about her attitude.
Warren coach Yun Chen didn’t hesitate to tell Jenny Glenn, the coach at NCAA Division II power Metropolitan State University of Denver, what he has learned.
“(Glenn) wanted to know how GabriElle would react if her playing time was limited next season,” he said. “I told her you won’t find a better player with a better work ethic than GabriElle.
“She will be an amazing teammate who will fight and work hard to find a place on the floor no matter what position. She will help your team win any way possible.”
Brewer, who verbally committed to MSU Denver earlier this month, enters her senior season hoping to help the Blue Devils improve on their third-place finish in the North Suburban Conference and Class 4A sectional semifinal appearance last fall.
“We lost several key players from last year’s team, but we have a really good group of seniors who have been playing together for a few years now, so we are expecting to have a good season,” Brewer said.
Brewer finished with 715 assists, 63 kills, 18 blocks, 186 digs and 66 aces last season, when she was an all-area selection.
“My first season with the girls team was (Brewer’s) sophomore year, when we played with a two-setter system,” Chen said. “Last year with a 6-1 system and with her being the lone setter, she really stepped up and improved her game.”
Chen also credited Brewer with being a team leader on and off the floor, something Brewer said she strives to improve.
“When I was a freshman on varsity, there were a lot of upperclassmen who showed me what to do and how to act on that level,” she said. “I’ve tried to keep learning as I went along about being a good leader so that when I get to this point of being a senior, I can try to carry on the traditions of this program with our younger girls.”
Brewer said she wants to continue to work on her all-around game to become the best player she can be.
“I can always get better in different areas like hitting and blocking, but I really want to get better with my court awareness, on knowing where all my teammates are and where the defenses we face are set up while I’m setting,” she said.
Brewer, who has had several standout seasons for the Sky High club program, said the Blue Devils have some unfinished business.
“This area has so many good high school teams that it is hard to be one of the top teams every season, but we feel we can go even farther in the state playoffs this season,” she said.
But Chen said matching or surpassing the team’s 23 wins last season is not what will determine success in 2022.
“We want them to become better people than better volleyball players,” Chen said. “The wins and losses will take care of themselves if they continue to work hard and improve.
“And I think the progress of a player like GabriElle over her four years shows what hard work and a great attitude can achieve.”
Darren Day is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.