Brianna Shimek reaches up to spike the ball during afternoon practice at St. Joseph gym. Shimek had an impressive track season thus far with 22 aces, 66 service points, 86 kills and 53 blocks.
St. Joseph's court jester
Originally published August 31, 2010 at 6:21 p.m., updated September 1, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.
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Lady Flyers
SAN ANTONIO HOLY CROSS AT ST. JOSEPH
Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.
During the intense moments of a volleyball game when coaches raise their voices to be heard over the noise of a gym, the St. Joseph Lady Flyers volleyball team can depend on Brianna Shimek to settle them down with advice and a joke.
"You've got to be serious and focused, but you've also got to have fun with it, and she helps to add the fun aspect when we're drilling them really hard," head coach Alvin Mumphord said.
Shimek added: "You have to know your serious moments and your goofing around moments, but whenever you're goofing around it's not getting carried away," she said. "You just have to find a way to make it fun and I find a way to laugh."
Shimek's play on the court has been no laughing matter for many St. Joseph opponents this season. Through 15 matches, the Lady Flyers are 10-5 and Shimek has 22 aces, 66 service points, 86 kills and 53 blocks.
Mumphord started coaching Shimek last season when she moved up to the varsity squad, and although he has seen her quickness and positioning improve, he is most impressed at how she has become a tone setter for the Lady Flyers.
"She's our first middle so she knows we're depending on her to try to get us started right so that we can hopefully get off to a good start and just keep running from there on," Mumphord said.
Shimek's setter, Kate Tucker, raved about the chemistry the two have developed on the court.
"I set her on the court so I know what she can do and what she can't do, so we feed well off of each other," Tucker said.
Helping the Lady Flyers shake off the nerves during a game is one thing, but Shimek has taken the responsibility of being a senior leader seriously and sharing the knowledge and experience she gained from a TAPPS state semi-final run during her first varsity season in 2009.
"Being on varsity last year, I have an upper hand on most of the people on the team," Shimek said. "As a senior you need to know, you need to step up and share your knowledge with the younger people."
The Flyers have an interesting coaching dynamic as they have two coaches in Mumphord and Allyson Griffin.
Even though the Lady Flyers have two coaches, they still respond when Shimek lights a fire under them in either practice or a game.
"Coach Griffin and myself, we can yell it and say it to push them, but it means more when it comes from your teammate because they're actually out there on the floor," Mumphord said.
As the Lady Flyers begin district play this week, Shimek has set a goal of returning to the state semi-finals, but she admits this season feels different.
"It's kind of sad, but it's definitely exciting," Shimek said. "It gives you a little push like this is your last chance."
Shimek and the Lady Flyers open TAPPS district 2-5A play at home against San Antonio Holy Cross Wednesday.
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