Graham-Kapowsin’s Hailey Brockway is The News Tribune’s 2019 All-Area volleyball Player of the Year
Graham-Kapowsin High School volleyball coach Loni Parks had heard the buzz about incoming freshman Hailey Brockway but wanted to wait until Brockway actually arrived at the high school before jumping on the hype train.
It didn’t take long. The first time Brockway hit the ball during the first day of summer-league tryouts, Parks was a believer.
“I yelled out, ‘Move her up, move her up. She’s starting!’” Parks said, to the laughter of everyone on the team.
Parks isn’t the only believer. Anyone who had a chance to compete against or watch the 14-year-old freshman outside hitter play can attest to just how good Brockway was in her first season of high school volleyball.
Brockway was named the Class 4A SPSL Most Valuable Player this season, racking up 578 kills, 246 digs and 62 blocks and led the Eagles to a first-place finish in the West Central III/Southwest bidistrict tournament and a third-place finish in the Class 4A state tournament.
She is The News Tribune’s 2019 All-Area Player of the Year.
“She’s a hard-working kid,” Parks said. “She’s a nice kid, a good kid. She’s just a teddy bear. She’s always having fun, being happy. She’s the nicest kid you’ll ever meet.”
But on the court, Brockway is a fierce competitor with strength that few can match at the high school level.
“She’s pow-er-ful,” Parks said, emphasizing each syllable. “At practice, there’s no blocking it. Everyone just kind of puts their hands up.”
Parks puts Brockway on the other side of the net during practice, opposite the rest of the starters.
“Our starters get furious,” Parks said, laughing. “She just whales it at them. I think that makes us a better defensive team because we’re playing against her every day.”
Just ask teammate Makenna Jackson how hard Brockway can smack the ball.
“It’s insane,” she said. “And she’s 14. I’m 16 and can barely get it over the net.”
Brockway grew up playing volleyball with her sister, Maddie, a junior libero for the Eagles.
“My sister is really great and I felt like I had to live up to the expectation that she set here,” Brockway said. “I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job of that. Everyone has been so welcoming to me.”
The skill and power is unique for a freshman. But beyond that, Brockway has the volleyball IQ to match.
“It’s so rare,” Parks said. “She’s really smart for her age, also. She’s just a stud. She has a family here. They surround her, love her and support her. I think that gives her the confidence to do what she’s doing right now. There’s no animosity, it’s just one big family out there. They’re happy as clams. They absolutely love her. They count on her.”
Once Brockway gets going during a set, it’s hard to slow down the 5-foot-11 hitter.
“Momentum is a huge part of the game,” Jackson said. “She adds a lot of momentum to our team with how many kills she gets. She knows what to do, knows how to play. She’s smart in the game, so she’s not just a hard hitter. She always knows where to go.”
Expect the Eagles to be a state tournament fixture the next three years with Brockway front and center. Brockway’s potential down the road? Parks won’t put a cap on it.
“Limitless,” she responded. “She is such a hard-working, coachable kid. … That’s the best kind of kid you can have. She has the height, she has the power, she has the mentality. She can come back from anything.
“That’s the hard part about the district tournament, the state tournament. Can you be mentally tough? She’s got that. She just goes out there and has fun and keeps her head up. That’s going to get her somewhere.”
Brockway isn’t too concerned yet about accolades, college offers or her long-term potential. Right now, she’s just having fun playing with her team.
“I love everyone on this team,” Brockway said. “Us working together, it’s just so perfect.”
