She’s amassed over 4,000 career assists. She’s gotten over 1,000 digs and is nearing 500 kills. In just this year alone, senior setter Kacy Bragg has led the Taylor women’s volleyball team to one of its greatest seasons in over a decade.
Bragg has established herself as one of the leaders on this team. Through her accomplishments, she has added tremendous value to each position on the court.
“It’s been really fun to grow over the past few years and be confident in the leader that I am,” Bragg said.
Bragg also stated that she could not get to where she was without her teammates, who’ve provided an excellent attack on the ball.
Among those attackers, Bragg gave high praise to transfer-athletes senior Arlanda Faulkner, sophomore Grace Ieremia, junior Anna Frey and sophomore Jen Springer. She also noted that the fifth-year players, Ryan Czerniak and Nikki Parrett, have all provided an amazing compliment to her game.
“They have added tremendous value. I truly can’t imagine a season without them,” she said.
Czerniak has been one of the biggest contributors to the Trojan offense. She has secured over 1,000 career kills, putting up a career high in kills for a single season, kills-per-set and kill percentage. Other hitters include Frey, who has put up 300 kills in her transfer season, and Faulkner, who surpassed 1,000 career kills in her first year donning the purple-and-white.
Bragg said that each player has been an incredible addition to the team and fits right in with the culture set by past leaders and players.
Another of Bragg’s teammates, senior Karli Ware, has also put on a show in her last year. She played a huge role in the back row, as well as having a big role in serving. Being a defensive specialist, she emphasizes consistency in her plays each time she steps on the court.
“Our offense this year (when in system) is really hard for the other team to pick up a ball,” Ware said. “Yes, serving has been big, but I think serve receive has allowed us to be in system a lot.”
Ware has played with Bragg all four years. As roommates, they have also live together and have developed a friendship on and off the court.
Ware has seen just how much Bragg has grown since her first year as a Trojan.
“Just being able to be on the court with someone that you're best friends with, just makes it more of a good time,” Ware said.
This year is supposed to be Ware’s last. She was supposed to transfer to Indiana Wesleyan, but felt called to come back and play a final year. With that, Ware will not be coming back for a fifth year.
Likewise, Bragg will also not come back for a fifth year. She has left everything she needed to leave on Paul Patterson Court. Her smile, her competitiveness, and her chapter of Taylor sports will come to a close.
