Ignacio senior taking v-ball skills to Florida
The structure appeared sound. Until she learned its foundation was compromised. So seriously, in fact, that to Kacey Brown it couldn’t be brought satisfactorily up to code.
And when things began crumbling in Creston, Iowa, for NJCAA Div. II member Southwestern Community College’s volleyball program, Brown started examining alternate blueprints for where she’d begin her post-Ignacio life – and perhaps continue her student-athlete career.
“I was pretty set, but then there was some stuff with that school that wasn’t going good … and then the coaches quit,” Brown recalled after fully committing inside IHS Gymnasium Tuesday afternoon, March 26, to her approved Plan B. “I still had a scholarship and everything, but I didn’t want to go unless it was for those same coaches. And I ended up finding a way better place, so it worked out great.”
A place not in America’s Heartland, but mere minutes away from its Atlantic Coast.
Known for versatility which enabled her to play during her Volleycat career as a libero, defensive specialist, setter, and – in 2023 – middle blocker, Brown officially inked her National Letter-of-Intent to study at and play for Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Fla. And, along with a couple additional TBC Volleyball representatives, making the trip to La Plata County for the occasion was Eagles head coach Carlin Poyner.
“Just to be here and experience everything around the area, meet the community and be a part of it … . I know it’s only been a few days that we’ve been here, but it’s been so welcoming and I’m so excited to be able to bring girls who are from a town or an area that is so welcoming,” said the second-year skipper, hired as such not long after she graduated the school in Spring ’23.
“And Kacey, in meeting her family and talking just about her character and family culture … we’re really excited to have that brought into our program,” she continued. “I think that was one of the strongest points made about Kacey, was her work ethic. And I’m very excited about someone who’s willing to do what they need to do, to be the best that they can be. Anything she tries and puts her mind to, she excels.”
Which in turn helped Ignacio excel in ’23 at a level not experienced in decades; the ’Cats finished 21-8 overall and reached the three-day, 12-team CHSAA Class 2A State Championships – as did Mancos and senior middle Haylie Higgins, who committed to Trinity Baptist (with Poyner & Co. present at MHS) the previous morning – phase. Based upon order of elimination prior to the final-day Final Four, IHS went 2-2 inside the Denver Coliseum and ‘placed’ eighth after a Day 2 evening loss to Strasburg (which had ousted Mancos in the 8 a.m. match, making the Lady Jays the first squad out).
Brown totaled 121 kills for the season, ranking third on the team, and totaled a second-most 41 blocks (29 solo). She was also credited with 259 digs (third-most), 44 assists and an Ignacio-most, 2A/1A San Juan Basin League-feared 80 service aces.
“Most our conversations have been talking about the way we run our program – to allow the girls to work and fight towards positions they want,” Poyner explained. “We were looking to sign her as a libero/setter but there are opportunities for her to win out and play … different positions in the future.”
“She is willing to do whatever the team needs – you can’t coach that. Wanting to help the team, she’d go from any role – setting to DS to libero to being a middle blocker, because she knew that’s what the team needed,” said IHS head coach Jennifer Seibel, set to begin her second season in that capacity this fall. “So, I think having all those different experiences with those positions is going to help her flourish into a great volleyball player for Trinity Baptist.”
A Division II member of the National Christian College Athletic Association, TBC soldiered through a trying 1-22 slog in 2023, ended by a 17-25, 21-25, 18-25 South Region Tournament loss in Greenville, S.C., to unrelated Trinity College of Florida (New Port Richey, Fla.) at tourney-hosting Bob Jones University. The Eagles’ win had come on September 23, via a sweep of Georgia Highlands (Rome, Ga.) College’s first-year program after losing earlier that day to NJCAA Div. I Andrew College, hosting the triangular in Cuthbert, Ga. For Poyner it was her first ‘W’ as a collegiate boss not much older than her players – now including Brown and Higgins.
“I’ve talked to her a little bit,” Brown said, referring to her fellow SJBL standout. “It’s cool, though, that she’s going; I think it’ll be really fun to have her there, know somebody there already.”
Other than extended family, that is.
“There’s a lot in Gainesville, some between there and Jacksonville … they’re all over – so I already love the state,” she said. “And the school’s great, the kids are great; I feel like I connected the moment I stepped in there. Like, it was just different from other schools I was looking into.”
“I knew Haylie was going there and … I knew this was one of the schools on Kacey’s list,” said former Ignacio head coach Shasta Pontine. “So when I contacted the coach that was one selling point – that it would be awesome to get them together. And I’m so proud of Kacey; this was something she wants and to get to this point … it’s something you have to want and strive for every day. And she’s that type of kid.”
Anticipating beginning her TBC career as a back-row player, Brown said she wasn’t yet sure about an academic interest but expressed hope that incoming Volleycats in years to come will aspire to maintain the program as one of the area’s best.
“I can’t wait to see how future girls do,” Brown said. “I feel like our senior class has always been good, energy-wise, and I think that’s why we were so good. But I really hope that the underclassmen could see our energy and take that with them; I really hope that they can continue this.”
“What I believe she’s bringing to our team: A level-headed fire,” said Poyner. “She has a ‘peace’ about her, and knowledge. That’s one thing we’re looking for as we build our program, girls who have knowledge and are willing to put that to use – as a team rather than just individually.”
“I know what she wants from me coming into the season,” Brown stated. “I can go anywhere they need and … do what I can for them.”
“Her volleyball I.Q. is really strong. She reads the ball really well … on the floor,” said Pontine. “She’s going to be able to lead.”