Senior libero Brianna Gritzman has a fond, if not slightly embarrassing, memory of her first dig. In that role, Gritzman handles serve receive and makes plays on defense for Burlington Central.
But her first dig? It was, at the very least, a head-shaking experience.
“I think the first dig I ever had was my first or second game my freshman year on the varsity,” Gritzman said, looking back with a smile. “I was a nervous freshman, and I’m not going to lie.
“The ball came down the line, and I almost got hit in the head.”
Fast forward to Thursday night, however, and Gritzman achieved a personal milestone with her 1,000 career dig for the Rockets in a 25-17, 25-13 Fox Valley Conference win at Cary-Grove.
She finished with five digs, two aces and an assist for Burlington Central (12-4, 7-3). Senior outside hitter Leah Freesemann had four kills and junior outside hitter Haidyn Schatz added three.
Junior middle hitter Peyton Strout also contributed three blocks and two kills for the Rockets, while junior right-side hitter Julia Johnson chipped in with three kills.
Gritzman has now amassed 1,002 digs in her four-year varsity career.
“I’ve worked super hard, especially in practice, where I probably have double the amount of digs,” she said. “It’s the only thing I’m trying to do on the court, so I can help the team and they get their highlights and recognition they want.”
Libero comes from the Italian word for “free,” and Gritzman loves analyzing and breaking down the vulnerabilities of the opposition from her viewpoint in the back row.
The libero never rotates to the front.
“I want to take away the highlights of the other team,” she said. “Whoever their big swing or bigger hitters are, I want to try to take that away and make the position mine.”
Enthusiastic, active and intuitive, Gritzman combines technique and intuition with a sharp command of every possible scenario.
“Being a libero, you have to be a leader on the court,” Burlington Central coach Julia Smaagacz said. “Brianna goes so far and beyond that.
“She’s a vocal leader, an energy leader. She is great at reading the hitters. She’s great at reading the block, and knowing where she has to be at any time.”
The oldest of four siblings from an athletic family, Gritzman has essentially been biologically attached to the game.
Her parents, Sean and Cindy, grew up playing volleyball before founding and operating the Top Flight club based in Elgin.
Brianna matriculated through the program, starting in its competitive leagues and making the shift to national club tournaments.
Now a two-year captain of the Rockets, Gritzman handles those responsibilities with seriousness and a profound sense of purpose, according to senior right-side hitter Emily Maramba.
“She brings another aspect,” said Maramba, who’s the other captain. “The last couple of years, almost everything she says has been very coach-like.
“What she says is very insightful — things that I would just not think of.”
When she was younger, Gritzman also showed an aptitude for painting and drawing. Sports interceded and took over her life, and she has played volleyball, basketball and soccer.
“I’m definitely a jock,” she said. “I love playing sports, I love working out, and I love the team culture more than individual sports.
“With the team, I could be a leader and create an outside family. I do what my part is and make sure that everybody is taken care of.”
Her teammates mobbed her after the match, presenting her with special balloons and photographs.
“I’d describe her personality as goofy but serious,” Maramba said. “I can be a little bit distracted sometimes, but she can click me out of that. If ‘Bri’ tells anybody to focus, they’re focused.
“We take her word.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
