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BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
Culver senior Brynn Berndt signed with Indiana University Kokomo Saturday to continue her volleyball and academic careers. From left – Ashlynn Berndt, Brynn’s sister and teammate; Andrea Berndt, Brynn’s mother and Culver coach; Brynn; and Brett Berndt, Brynn’s father and Culver principal.
CULVER — Capping off a scintillating senior season in which she led her team to its first regional title, Brynn Berndt signed with Indiana University Kokomo Wednesday to continue her academic and volleyball careers.
Berndt said the relationship that she developed with IU Kokomo coach Heather Hayes was crucial to her decision.
“I think my main decision was based off the coach,” Berndt said. “I have a great relationship with her. She’s been there throughout everything for me. I had a lot of other schools that were similar to IUK, so it was the coach for me.”
Berndt was asked to describe Hayes’ personality.
“She’s very loud,” a smiling Berndt said. “She’s there for me all the time. She’s just constantly texting me. She’s just very positive. … I’d describe her as like an elementary teacher. You know, they’re always positive, always funny. She’s very loud too. She’s a coach, and I would think an elementary teacher.”
Berndt said she heard from about six or seven schools during the recruiting process. She said that NCAA Division II schools like Hillsdale College and Tiffin University showed interest, and she even visited Hillsdale.
In addition to IU Kokomo, IU Southeast, Grace and Bethel were among the other NAIA schools that showed interest.
Berndt finished with 1,021 career kills, 189 aces, 102 blocks, 870 digs, 242 assists and 714 serves received. She could play in the front or back row.
She said her versatility was how she learned the game.
“Fundamentals were a big thing,” Berndt said. “And then like, even club-wise, outside hitters are expected to be six (rotations), so you’re expected to know how to do everything. But I think starting from elementary, just fundamentals, learning everything really helped that.”
Berndt’s mother Andrea is the coach at Culver. Her father Brett is both the Culver principal and an assistant girls basketball coach. And her sister Ashlynn, three years her junior, is both a volleyball and basketball teammate.
She said that has opened her eyes.
But her club experience was also key. She played for The Academy Volleyball Club in Indianapolis for a year and for Boiler Juniors in Lafayette in both her 16-year-old and 17-year-old seasons.
“The competition level is just unreal,” Berndt said. “You don’t see anything like it around here. So that’s why I chose to go to Indy and Lafayette. We’re in all those big tournaments in Texas and Florida. We traveled all around. So the competition level is definitely very high.”
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