Bree Velasquez took over the Bishop Brossart Mustangs volleyball program in 2018 hoping to build interest in the program.
The 31-year-old left the program in much better shape than she found it. The Mustangs finished 83-69 over her five years. Velasquez and her husband Omar have a son Easton and are expecting another child at the end of February, so Velasquez decided it was time to step away from the game.
“As much as I want to continue, I know I won’t be able to be physically or mentally present for the team with two under two at home,” Velasquez said. “I’m sure this won’t be the end for me in the volleyball world – just a slight pause.”
The Mustangs have struggled to make it out of the 37th District against Scott and Campbell County since the district came together in 2012. Brossart made it to the region tournament her first season in 2018 losing to Harrison County in the region quarterfinals.
But the Mustangs broke through in many ways this past year finishing 27-14 and ranked 24th in the final Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association poll. They struggled with consistency at times during the regular season. But things really clicked in the postseason as Brossart took down Campbell County, 3-2 (25-18, 25-20, 28-30, 19-25, 15-12) in the district tournament semifinals before beating Scott twice in the postseason for both the first district and region tournament championships in school history. Velasquez won two 10th Region Coach of the year honors and earned the Northern Kentucky Girls Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year award. The Mustangs also claimed four 10th Region All “A” championships during Velasquez’s tenure.
Bishop Brossart lost 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-13) at 16th Region champion Boyd County in the first round of the state tournament. But the Mustangs are in position to win the region the next few years with the graduation of just two seniors in setter Savannah Seiter and right side/defensive specialist Ava Thomas.
“She has taken our program to another level,” said Ron Verst, Bishop Brossart head coach. “Our coaches instilled the knowledge that we can compete. We can win. We can accomplish these things. I hate to see her step down. But we understand family comes first. It’s just part of it.”
Nine players who played in at least 20 games last year return. That starts with junior libero Maddie Kremer, who led the Mustangs with 614 digs and 66 aces. Eighth grade setter Aubrey Rebholz stepped in for the injured Seiter including the postseason and finished with 332 assists.
When in system, Brossart had a potent offensive attack led by sophomore 6-foot-3-inch Corrine Blackburn with 404 kills and 87 blocks. But a number of other hitters return to take the pressure off Blackburn. Sophomore outside hitter Kate Neltner, junior outside hitter Kayla Hesse and junior middle blocker Payton Parker return after recording 212, 166 and 148 kills, respectively last season.
“She just pushed us very hard and I’m just very proud of how my team really showed up when we needed to,” Parker said. “We need to keep our cool and show out more in the first game for sure.”
Verst said Brossart will begin looking for a coach this week. Sydney Bragg served as an assistant with Carson Mayes leading the junior varsity and Shelbie Hanson leading the freshman teams.