Despite a difficult season for San José State volleyball, business junior and right side Brooke Bryant kept her head high this fall following her performance in 2022.
The team had an overall record of 13-18, with a home record of 5-7 and an away record of 3-10, according to the SJSU athletics.
Brooke Bryant played in 27 matches and 56 sets last year and averaged 0.92 kills and 0.45 blocks per set, according to the SJSU athletics . Her season highs included nine kills against UC Riverside and eight kills at Weber State and seven total blocks against Fresno State, according to the same source.
“I played softball since I was eight years old, and then my dad signed me up for volleyball tryouts my freshman year of highschool,” Brooke Bryant said. “I had never touched a volleyball in my life. My dad just thought I would be good at it.”
Brooke Bryant said one of the coaches told her if she wanted to make the team the following year, she should join club volleyball.
“It was a big jump from highschool volleyball to college,” Brooke Bryant said. “The main difference was jumping into a pool of 25-year-olds that just knew everything and were a lot more physical because they had been doing volleyball for four years.”
Brooke Bryant’s dad, Blaise Bryant, was a former All-American running back at Iowa State, and played for the New York Jets, Denver Broncos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Blaise Bryant said being a professional athlete in the past did not necessarily make it easy to connect with Brooke during her sports journey.
“I think it would have been easier if I was a non-athlete,” he said. “I critique too much. I’d rather just be a parent watching.”
Blaise Bryant also said his favorite thing about his daughter on the court is her passion and relationship with others.
“I like her excitement, and camaraderie with her teammates whether she’s on the court playing or just on the sidelines,” he said. “I’m really proud that she became a captain.
Communications senior and middle blocker Jiana Lawson said she has enjoyed seeing Bryant’s confidence progress over this year.
“I was really proud of her blocking progression, and just appreciated her bringing all the joy and lightheartedness onto the court,” Lawson said. “She was able to find a way to develop trust in herself while we were going through the season which was difficult, so I commend her for that.”
During the 2022 season, Lawson averaged 1.59 kills and 1.05 blocks per set in 103 sets played. Entering her second year at San José State after transferring from the University of Portland, Lawson was one of 10 student-athletes chosen to represent San José State at the Black Student-Athlete Summit in May 2022.
Lawson said this is the most she has ever enjoyed being on a team, with this year being her fourth at the collegiate level.
“We brought in a really special group of freshmen, and if they get the proper coaching and leadership they’ll be pretty unstoppable for the next three years,” Lawson said.
Bryant said she herself has grown a lot since her freshman year at SJSU, and that she is grateful for those who mentored her.
Bryant also said while managing her personal life, academics and volleyball has been challenging, she has gotten used to it over time.
“Balancing school and traveling almost every day is hard, and if you are going for club volleyball you are practicing two times a week.”
Despite the challenges volleyball has given her, Bryant said she truly loves every single person on our team, making it a main reason for her staying committed.
“We all work on different things, but we all connect really well,” she said.
Brooke Bryant said she would love to play volleyball professionally overseas after she graduates.
After hearing her plans, Blaise said he will fully support Brooke and her athletic career.
“I always tell her to play as long as she can,” he said. “Once you get locked into a job, car payment and a mortgage, the playing is over and you’re gonna be working the rest of your life.”
As she goes into her senior year, one goal Brooke Bryant has for herself is to be a better teammate.
“I want to be a better leader,” Bryant said. “I was captain this year, and I learned a lot from the experience. I would love to set the standard to have great years going forward.”
