For her entire high school career, Brandywine senior Jessy Cooper has been a setter.

That is until now.

Second-year Brandywine coach Carl Greulich has moved Cooper from setter to outside hitter in part due to necessity because of some early season injuries and illness.

There are no plans to move Cooper back to setter at this point, and at least for one night, it paid big dividends for the Bobcats.

Brandywine defeated visiting New Buffalo 3-1 in a non-conference volleyball match Wednesday.

Cooper was the statistical leader in three of five categories, including kills and digs.

Replacing Cooper at setter for Brandywine is senior Ashley DeJonge. DeJonge was credited with 38 assists Tuesday night in the win for the Bobcats.

“Jessy is our go-to player,” Greulich said. “She had a real good night tonight. I definitely plan on keeping Cooper outside. That’s why we are working Ashley so hard at running a 5-1 (a one setter offense). She’s doing a nice job.”

Cooper said it has been a little strange playing a new position.

“I guess I can used to it,” she said. “It’s strange because all three years I have set and that’s all I do in club. Ashley set last year, so it’s not that big a difference.”

The Bobcats won the first two sets 25-21 and 25-23. Things kind of fell apart for Brandywine in the third set and the Bison were able to take the 25-17 victory.

The Bobcats stormed out of gates in the fourth set grapping a 5-0 lead on a kill by Cooper and four straight service winners by Smith.

Behind the serving of Jade Madison, New Buffalo rallied to cut the lead to 8-6 before back-to-back kills from Smith and Victoria Knight gave Brandywine a 16-12 advantage.

The Bison quickly cut the lead again, this time to 18-17 before back-to-back kills this time from Knight and Smith, made it a 20-17 Bobcat lead. A kill by Rachelle Dodge and another Cooper kill increased the Brandywine advantage to 23-18 and essentially sealed the victory.

A New Buffalo service error gave the Bobcats match point and a kill by Cooper wrapped up the win for Brandywine.

Cooper finished the night with 17 kills, while Smith and Dodge each had 6. Cooper had 18 digs and Justine Sater 12, while Cooper had four aces and Smith three.

Knight and Alissa Gamble both finished with three blocks.

 

Brandywine d. New Buffalo 3-1

Brandywine statistics

Kills

Jessy Cooper 17

Brooke Smith 6

Rachelle Dodge 6

 

Digs

Cooper 18

Justine Sater 12

 

Assists

Ashley DeJonge 38

 

Aces

Cooper 4

Smith 3

 

Blocks

Victoria Knight 3

Alissa Gamble 3