During nine seasons as the head coach at Iowa Western Community College, Alicia Williams lost 44 games.
In just one season at the helm of Bradley volleyball, she lost almost half of that amount.
Coming off a 10-21 season in Williams’ introduction to Division I play, the Braves head into 2023 in unfamiliar territory. They were picked eighth in the MVC’s preseason poll – their lowest ranking since 2017 – while graduating three seniors and losing two more players to the transfer portal.
Despite this, Bradley is not lacking in experience. Fifth-year senior Karagan Coggin is back to lead a team with 12 upperclassmen looking to capture the program’s first MVC championship.
“We’re just trying to all be on the same page,” Coggin said. “I think in years past we may not all have been on the same page, but for sure this year we’re all buying in and we want to be the best Bradley team we can be.”
Last year, Coggin led the Braves in aces and points while also being second in blocks and top five in all major attacking categories, so she understands her importance to the squad. As the oldest returner on the team, Coggin knows she will be relied on heavily once again and is prepared to be the focus for the opponents.
“This year has been one of those years that I’ve had to really understand that my role is huge and I’ve got to be on top of my game at all points,” Coggin said.
It also helps to have players like sophomore Kendall Minta back, who led the team last year with 102 blocks and 1.07 blocks per set as a freshman. Combined with upperclassmen strikers such as junior Silan Demirkol (2.26 kills per set in 2022), senior Doga Topcicek (2.57 kills/set) and senior Abby Johnson (2.13 kills/set), the Braves are set up well on the front line.
“We’re a very upperclassmen heavy team, which I think helps the leadership,” Minta said. “And then obviously we have a couple new people and a couple transfers that’ll help strengthen our roster.”
Perhaps the most impactful newcomer that Minta alludes to is Alabama grad transfer Dru Kuck. Brought in to be the libero after the departure of Serena Sparks, Kuck has four years of power conference experience and led the Crimson Tide in digs (364) and digs per set (4.00) her junior year. She has big shoes to fill, as Sparks ended her career third in program history in digs, but Kuck has already received praise for her leadership by Coggin and Minta – a sentiment echoed by their head coach.
“The girls already see [Kuck] as a leader,” Williams said. “They’ve said they’ll go to battle with her and she’s just gonna own the back court. Her personality is very confident and she’s a servant as well so she just really helps make people feel good and confident.”
Using Minta as an example, freshmen can thrive on Williams’ team and the head coach feels that this year is no different. Both Corrie Brown and Tendai Titley are expected to get opportunities, with Williams shouting out Brown’s tempo and IQ and Titley’s “cannon of an arm.”
Despite what was gained, the Braves lost a big piece of their offense when Carlee Camlin graduated last season, opening the door for redshirt senior Loren Scott to make a big impact this year as the setter in the middle. Fellow senior Jasmine Green is also in line for a bigger role, and Williams believes she’ll make a name for herself as long as she can stay healthy.
“[Green] saw some time early on last year and did really well, but we’ve got to keep her healthy,” Williams said. “We’ve got to keep her just terminating balls and I think she’s gonna have a really good year.”
Williams changed up her sideline as well during the offseason, bringing in assistant coach William Tatge from Georgia State. With over 10 years of coaching experience, Williams particularly likes what Tatge can bring to an offense that was bottom-three in the MVC a year ago. He’s already seemed to resonate with Minta, who enjoys the new information and technology Tatge brings to the Hilltop.
“He’s really knowledgeable,” Minta said. “He just brings a new perspective to the game and he’s also very interactive with us and he gives a lot of feedback. We’re all really excited about all the new things he’s gonna bring for our team.”
If the Braves have any hope at climbing up the standings, they’ll need to tackle a pretty daunting schedule. Six of their non-conference opponents had winning records last year and one even won their conference. They also get in-state power conference foe Illinois to kick off a stretch of four matches in five days, the last three of which are all against teams with winning records a season ago.
Once conference play starts, it doesn’t get much easier.
Bradley kicks things off against reigning MVC champion Northern Iowa before taking on runner-up Drake the very next day, then they launch into a four-game road trip that takes them into October. It’s a stretch that could make or break a season, and it’s one that Williams sees as a welcomed challenge.
“Some people might see it as an obstacle to be gone and on the road that much and playing really tough competition, but I just see it as inserted adversity,” Williams said. “If we can get some really great wins there, it’ll feed us [with] some confidence going into conference [play].”
Coming off their worst season since 2016, the chip on the Braves’ shoulder is large and they’re prepared for a bounce-back campaign.
“Everybody has picked up and is gonna take off this year,” Coggin said.
