U-Hi’s Brooklynn Tacke aims to win

Brooklynn Tacke has an attitude that comes pouring out when she gets on the volleyball court.

As a University High middle blocker, it’s an integral part of the game.

“I like to play with a lot of emotion, which is different for me,” Tacke said. “Off the court I’m pretty quiet. On the court I get pretty competitive, and it’s a great release for me to be able to just let it all come out.”

A successful volleyball team is made up of role players. There are high-flying outside hitters who bring home the point. There’s the setter, equal parts quarterback and point guard, feeding hitters and confusing defenses. There are liberos and defensive specialists, who dig up and run down blasts from opposing hitters.

And then there are middle blockers, who get an emotional rush by blocking opposing hitters.

“Oh, man – I LOVE that!” Tacke said. “I love the look on their face when I block them. I want to get in their head.”

University, undefeated in Greater Spokane League play at 9-0, goes into today’s rematch with Gonzaga Prep as part of a four-way tie for first place with Central Valley, Lewis and Clark and Gonzaga Prep.

As the final month of the regular season plays out, the Titans face four matches with teams they have already met and beaten. They host Shadle Park next week in a battle between two teams that reached the State Class 3A tournament a year ago, and close out the regular season with the annual Flying Cow match with Central Valley.

Tacke said she loves the idea of playing the final match of the regular season for all the marbles – the league championship and the top seed going into the payoffs – against their arch rivals.

“But I’m trying not to think about that right now,” she said. “Right now we have to focus on playing one match at a time. We just want to play them one match at a time and have fun doing it.”

Tacke is a three-year starter. As a sophomore she played for Mark Weis. Last year Weis stepped down after taking a job as an administrator in the Central Valley School District.

Mike Summers took over the program last year and brought with him a more up-tempo style of play.

“I really liked the way both of them coached,” Tacke said. “But I have to admit that I personally like the up-tempo way we play and I think it suits us.”

Last year’s squad got all the way to the state tournament.

“I think we were a little intimidated once we got there,” Tacke said. “We thought we could blow past our first opponent there and we couldn’t do it.”

This year’s lineup hasn’t changed much from last year, and that helped the Titans to the fast start to this season.

“We’ve only lost two seniors from last year’s team, and one of them was out all last year with an injury,” Tacke said. “We’re all very comfortable playing together. The more we keep winning, the more confident we get.”

U-Hi enjoys a large and enthusiastic fan base that makes home matches a treat to play, she said. The Titans have three tough matches at home in their final six matches. Along with today’s battle with Gonzaga Prep, they play host to Shadle Park and Mead at home.

They face Lewis and Clark and Mt. Spokane on the road, and the Flying Cow match will be played at CV.

“When it comes to the Flying Cow, I don’t think it matters whose gym we play that in,” Tacke said. “Our fans will be out in force for that match and it’s going to be a lot of fun to play in front of that kind of a crowd.”