RF’s Brianna Brathol to continue volleyball career at Kent State

By Reagan Hoverman
Posted 11/22/22

Outgoing River Falls senior outside hitter Brianna Brathol, one of three Wildcats slated to play Division 1 volleyball, will continue her academic and athletic career at Kent State University in …

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RF’s Brianna Brathol to continue volleyball career at Kent State

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Outgoing River Falls senior outside hitter Brianna Brathol, one of three Wildcats slated to play Division 1 volleyball, will continue her academic and athletic career at Kent State University in Ohio, as she made official on National Signing Day on Wednesday, Nov. 9, in River Falls.

When Brathol signed the letter of intent to play volleyball at Kent State University starting next fall, it was the culmination of a lifetime of hard work for an individual that does everything in her life with a ferocity rarely seen in high school athletes.

According to River Falls head coach Sara Kealy, Brathol’s relentless pursuit of excellence that helped make her a future Division 1 player was apparent from the moment she walked through the door her freshman year of high school.

“It’s her natural personality. The broadcast guys nicknamed her “The Badger” her freshman year and that’s probably the most appropriate nickname I’ve ever heard,” Kealy said. “Everything she does is full-bore aggression whether it’s defense or the way she hits the ball. She gets the most out of her jump, her athleticism and her speed.” Brathol’s badger-like mentality and physical gifts quickly separated her from the rest of the competition. Throughout her high school career, she became an integral part of multiple teams that made trips to the WIAA State Tournament in Green Bay and even earned an All-State Honorable Mention for the 2022 season. Brathol was also named First-Team All-Conference for the Big Rivers this season.

Although Brathol is listed as 5’11” on the official River Falls roster, she’s likely more in the 5’9” or 5’10” range in terms of height. Despite being an undersized outside hitter, especially in the Big Rivers Conference, Brathol’s exceptional vertical made her one of the most effective players in the league.

“She gets the most out of her jump and it’s the consistency with which she does things,” Kealy said of Brathol. “It causes her teammates to trust her because they know what they’re going to get from her every time. She’s just that reliable energy that you need on your court.”

Brathol played meaningful roles on several state-caliber Wildcat squads, but perhaps none was more pivotal than that of her senior campaign. Throughout the 2022 season, Brathol was River Falls’ top scoring option and led the team in kills with well over 300.

Although the season ended in the Division 1 Sectional Final against Chi-Hi in a five-set thriller, Brathol was a driving force on a team that finished the year 39-6 and ranked in the top ten of the weekly Wissports.com coaches poll.

Many schools reached out to Brathol early in the recruiting process, but she didn’t make a verbal commitment to any programs before she felt ready. When she decided to make it official with Kent State, coach Kealy knew that Brathol’s patience had paid off.

Kealy is familiar with Kent State and its league, the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Kealy grew up in Muncie, Ind., where Ball State is, which is another program in the MAC. Kealy was an intern coach at Ball State while she was an undergraduate student. Kealy knows the conference well and believes it’s a perfect fit for Brathol.

“I’m glad she waited because I think Kent State is a great fit for her,” Kealy said. “I know that conference really well. I think she’s going to go in there and compete and contribute for her team, whether it be as a six-rotation outside right away or maybe even just in the backcourt.”

While some of Kealy’s past student-athletes have wanted to stay close to home, Brathol has relished the idea of going to a completely new environment at a larger school and building a life of her own.

“She’s one of those kids that will go wherever and start fresh,” Kealy said. “I think being all the way in Ohio isn’t going to bother her at all. She’s ready to fly.”

Brathol will begin the next step in her academic and athletic career as a member of the Golden Flashes women’s volleyball program at Kent State University in Ohio in the fall of 2023.


River Falls senior Brianna Brathol serves an ace during the Wildcats’ Division 1 Sectional Final against Chi-Hi earlier this season. Photo by Reagan Hoverman