Warsaw Volleyball: Plenty To Bragg About For Tigers
WARSAW – Kacy Bragg loves the thrill of skying to slam down a kill on the volleyball court.
She also loves the excitement of seeing a teammate do the same thing off one of her sets.
The versatile, do-it-all Warsaw junior standout simply loves the game and it shows.
The enthusiastic and excitable Bragg, a sweet-swinging southpaw with big time talent, will be a big key this fall as a strong and experienced Tiger team looks to make some big noise on the court.
“I love getting a big kill, but I also love setting the ball for one of my teammates to get the kill,” said Bragg during a recent break in a preseason practice at WCHS. “Both of them are just so exciting to me.”
Bragg, who earned All-Northern Lakes Conference honors last year, spent the offseason playing for a Dunes Club team. She worked on sharpening her setting skills under former LaPorte High School star and current IUSB coach Jamie Ashmore. Ashmore is the daughter of Rick Ashmore, owner of the Dunes Operation Center in Rolling Prairie and the second-year coach of the Tigers.
“Jamie is an amazing setter and coach,” said Bragg. “For me, it was all about getting reps and just getting better playing club this offseason. I’m definitely a lot more confident now and also physically and mentally stronger, too.”
Bragg is one of a host of strong players back from last season’s team that went 20-14 overall and 5-2 in the NLC. The Tigers, who lost 3-1 to Concord in a sectional semifinal to end last year, graduated just one senior and also welcome in players from a JV team that was 25-4 and a freshman group that was 32-1. Additionally, the roster adds a trio of outstanding freshmen to the mix this fall.
“I think that we are a better team than last year,” noted Bragg. “We just need to focus each game on getting better, play as a team and hold each other accountable.”
Bragg had a huge match to end her sophomore season on the Tiger Den floor. She slammed down 20 kills to go with four blocks, three aces, nine digs and 13 assists in the loss to Concord. Bragg is slated see time at both setter and hitter this season in a 6-2 offense, which will also include Addie Dickerhoff at setter.
“I just want to be a leader and a light for our team,” remarked Bragg. “I want to be the one who encourages my teammates and be a leader for our younger players. I want to go out there and not just play for myself. I want to play for my team.”
Bragg, the daughter of Kevin and Jill Bragg, grew up watching older sisters Jenna and Krista play for the Tigers. She is now making her own mark as a outstanding player in her own right.
“I loved watching my sisters play here and my family supports me so much and gives me a lot of my positive attitude,” Bragg said.
Bragg, who boasts Division I talent, also loves playing roundball. She was the fourth-leading scorer on a Warsaw hoops team that went 20-4 this past season.
“I love both volleyball and basketball,” stated Bragg. “I really like coach Ashmore. He really knows what he is talking about. And I also really like our new basketball coach (Lenny Krebs) too.”
Rick Ashmore, whose team has really beefed up its schedule this fall, knows he has a good one in Bragg.
“Kacy is just an all-around very good player,” said the Warsaw coach. “She’s a Division I talent. Athletically, she is very gifted. She’s enjoyable to coach because she asks good questions, she works on what she needs to and she pushes herself.
“I expect her to take more of a leadership role on the court for us this season. I’ve seen her doing that in practice.”
Warsaw will scrimmage at Valparaiso Thursday night. The Tigers then host Leo to open the season Aug. 15.