Lady Cubs Volleyball has new faces, looks to continue playoff momentum

The Brownfield Lady Cubs Volleyball team comes into the 2022 season with high hopes and a return back to the playoffs. Two seasons in a row, the Lady Cubs found themselves in the Region I-3A Semifinals against Holiday and lost both years. The Lady Cubs have gone to the State Volleyball playoffs five years straight and they look to continue. There have been some changes since the 2021 season, notably hometown Coach Malorie (Ellis) Brantley leaving the helm and heading over to 4A Lubbock Estacado. Coach Brantley had a stellar two seasons while at Brownfield. Another change is the volleyball team lost a lot of talent to graduation. There are only two returning players: Brianne Franco (Outside Hitter) and Jackie Castillo (Libero).

Although graduation hit them hard, new Head Coach Courtney Vander Dussen will not give in to the nay-sayers. Coach Vander Dussen is no stranger to success as she has played on a 3A State Championship Team from Texico New Mexico. After graduating, she went to Texas Tech University and began working for Next Level Volleyball Club in 2018.  She says, “This is when I first fell in love with coaching and knew this was what I wanted to pursue for my future.” Coach Vander Dussen stayed with Next Level for 5 seasons, head coaching a variety of age groups before coming to Brownfield ISD to be the junior high volleyball coach.

This season, specifically district season, the Lady Cubs will see a few new teams. After the biennial UIL realignment, the Lady Cubs were placed with and kept old foes like Denver City and Lamesa, and added to District 3-3A were Coahoma, Merkle, and Odessa Compass Academy. A six-team district with two not reaching the playoffs. In the past two seasons four of the six schools that represent 3-3A went to the playoffs, Lamesa and Merkel were not the teams. However, the two returning seniors will need to use their experience and leadership to help guide the Lady Cubs to another District Title. They will have help from seniors Jaelyn Molina and Kara Valentin. There are two juniors to watch for, that will play a huge role in wins, which are Jaslyn Gomez and Aubree Valenzuela.

The Lady Cubs have already begun their season and it was a win. Not only a win but the first recorded win of any sport at the new BHS Gym. The Lady Cubs beat Kingdom Prep 25-23, 25-17, 25-15.

2022 Brownfield Lady Cub Volleyball Team Varsity Roster

#4 – Brianne Franco (Returning Senior) 

#3 – Jackie Castillo (Returning Senior) 

#10 – Alyzae Balero (Senior) 

#8 – Jaelyn Molina (Senior) 

#15 – Kara Valentin (Senior) 

#14 – Malorie Martinez (Senior) 

#11 – Aubree Valenzuela (Junior)  

#7 – Jaslyn Gomez (Junior) 

#2 – Rhianna Miranda (Junior) 

#1 – Sadie Garcia (Junior)  

# 5 – Shy’la Blackwell (Sophomore) 

Manager – Amery Pauda (Junior) 

Manager – Amea Cerveny (Sophomore) 

Manager – Gracey Hernandez (Sophomore) 

Varsity Volleyball Schedule