IMA SPORTS

Since starting as a freshman, Brooke Kwiatkowski has made her impact on Maumee volleyball. Now the junior setter has a career milestone to show just how good she’s been for the Panthers.

Kwiatkowski recently went over 1,000 assists for her career, now sitting at 1,148 assists for red-hot Maumee (10-7).

“It took a lot of years to get there,” Kwiatkowski said. “It took a lot of hard work, and I’m honestly surprised I got to 1,000. I didn’t even know I was close to it.”

While others focused on her approaching the mark, Kwiatkowski was more concerned with simply playing the game. So far in her junior season, she has 413 assists, just 62 away from a new single-season best. She’s also recorded 258 digs – only 22 away from another personal best – and a career-high 79 kills.

Her play has powered the Panthers to four straight wins, over Rossford, Springfield, Fostoria and Genoa. Maumee also finished second at the Sandusky tournament, beating Port Clinton and Marion Harding before falling to Western Reserve.

According to coach Lindsay Vannett, Kwiatkowski has been the “heartbeat of the offense.”

“Reaching 1,000 career assists is a milestone that reflects not just skill, but consistency and leadership on the court,” Vannett said. “Brooke has been the heartbeat of the offense for the last few years and has turned every opportunity into a statement on the type of player she is.”

Kwiatkowski made her presence known right away as a freshman, tallying 261 assists, 158 digs, 43 aces, 30 blocks and 61 kills. She credits camps, one-on-one sessions, and constant learning from coaches for her growth, especially on the mental side of the game.

“I don’t let the game define me,” she said. “I just work hard, and if we lose, I just work harder the next day. … If we lose, it’s not the end of the world and we’re going to go back to practice and work harder, and go into the next game with a clear mind.”

She also credited her longtime club teammate Kennedy Falkenberg, now a junior outside hitter at Lake, as someone who has pushed her to get better.

“We’ve played on the same team (Toledo Dynamic Volleyball) for four years,” Kwiatkowski said. “She makes me work really hard because she’s really good.”

While 1,000 assists is an impressive accomplishment, Kwiatkowski already has her eyes on another milestone: 1,000 digs. With her current pace, that goal is well within reach.

And with past Panthers as role models, like Brynn Brown, Jolie Sobb, Kate Owens and Camy Wedge setting high standards in the program, Kwiatkowski said she’s motivated to keep climbing.

“It just makes me want to get those numbers,” she said. “I want to get to 2,000 assists because (Wedge) got to 2,000. It makes me want to get better because they were so good.”

The Panthers put their four-match winning streak on the line when they host Napoleon on Monday, September 29.

Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers
Reach IMA at insidemaumeeathletics@gmail.com