Senior Setter Caps Standout Career
Bruin Squad is Chemistry Personified
Trish Siedlik, Bellevue University's volleyball coach, got an assist from her college teammate and setter, Tonya Sanfordt, four years ago. Sanfordt, then an assistant coach at Johnson-Brock High School, recommended Siedlik recruit her senior setter, Jordan Broady.
Siedlik took the advice. The result — over 5,750 assists, 126 wins to date, three Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles, and an MCAC Player of the Year Award.
"Everything is going the way it is supposed to right now and you can't really ask for anything more than that," said Broady, the Bruins' senior setter.
Broady is majoring in Health and Human Performance with a minor in Psychology. She plans to pursue her teaching and coaching certificates following graduation. She credits Assistant Professor Brenda Mechels with keeping her on track through her academic career.
"She has helped me out through pretty much everything," Broady said. "She makes sure that I'm getting the classes that I need and the attention that I need in order to graduate on time."
While Broady collects the assists on the court, a balanced Bruin squad helps make it happen. Junior libero Meghan Evans set the school single-season record for digs, with over 750. Evans' passing puts Broady in position to distribute the ball to multiple offensive options. Junior Annie Benson leads the team with 431 kills, while junior Caitlyn Rueth has 414. Sydney Deboer, a junior middle blocker has 352. Sophomore Sunny Bell and freshman Symone Faulkner each have well over 200 kills as well.
"Our strength is chemistry," Broady said. "I've been playing with nine juniors for three years — getting to know them and knowing how to encourage them to get the best out of them."
While Siedlik was a self-described "bug in her ear" during Broady's early time on the Bellevue campus, the four-year starter is now an extension of her coach on the court.
"Right now, three or four years later, I'm looking at what she's calling and she's on it," Siedlik said. "She's doing exactly what we want her to do."
Broady's experience as a collegiate athlete has been an important part of her educational experience at Bellevue University.
"It's not necessarily an academic thing, it's more of learning life lessons thing," she said. "Learning how to deal with all the different personalities that you come across — I've been blessed with a group of girls that I really get along with. It's taught me a lot about how I want to lead."
