BROWNSTOWN — Kera Wischmeier and Adelynn Anderson said they enjoyed their time together playing volleyball at Brownstown Central.

Friday night they announced that they want to play volleyball together at the next level and signed to play at Indiana University Columbus.

Wischmeier was a middle hitter and Anderson was a defensive specialist for the Braves, and both said they would probably be playing the same positions at Columbus.

“Hitting middle is very challenging at some point,” Wischmeier said. “It’s not something that everybody can do because (opponents) put their tallest hitters in there and it takes a lot of stamina and everything to go block in every single position, and you have to learn how to be quick and that is something that definitely comes over the years.

“You have to learn to go in really quick because your ball is a lot shorter than everybody else’s when you are hitting,” she added. “It’s just kind of a spot I got put in since I grew so tall (5-11),” so fast.”

Wischmeier received the Braves’ blocking award last fall, and was all-state honorable mention, Mid-Southern all-conference, and academic all-state.

She said she chose to attend IUPUC because it is close to home. “I got into the direct med (nursing) program and it’s nice that I get to stay close the family.”

She began playing volleyball in fifth grade and was a three-year varsity starter for the Braves.

She also played as an outside hitter one season for the Braves. “They said since I have worked on more than just the middle spot, I’ve been versatile as a hitter, it will be helpful because they could keep one of their taller girls in the middle and I could play outside.

“Winning the first set kind of sets the ground rules like how the next couple sets are going to go because if you win the first set you have a lot more confidence, and the other team gets down and vice versa. It’s a confidence booster if you are the first one out of the gate to win.”

Anderson, a two-year varsity starter said, “Winning the first set is pretty important because it sets the tone for the rest of the match.

Anderson, who was academic all-state last fall spoke on how her club ball helped her game.

“It helped me a lot. I think that is where I mostly improved,” Anderson said. “I’ve been playing it ever since eighth grade.” Anderson said she liked the environment when she visited IUPUC and met members of the team.”

“The team was so welcoming when I had my visit. They were just so nice and told me, “We’re just so excited to have you come and play with us.

I also loved how they told me that they encourage each other at practice and push each-other at practice to be better. Their program is really growing.”

Anderson, who also plays softball, said she enjoyed her time in athletics and being a student at BCHS,

“I love it here at Brownstown because they always push you to your limits and push you to be better at everything. It was very exciting to go to state, especially since it was my senior year. It was such a fun experience with the whole team.”

“I enjoyed the team bonding (with the Braves). It was such a good environment, and I had so much fun playing with all of them.”

Both girls said their two biggest wins last fall were beating Linton Stockton in the regional and Indianapolis Scecina at the Columbus East semi-state.

Both girls said they went to state in eighth grade when the Braves won the state title, and both said they have enjoyed being students at BCHS and enjoyed their teachers.

Brownstown head coach Jennifer Shade spoke about both of her signing athletes.

“Kera was on the team last year that went to the state finals and just had a really successful season,” she said. “That was Kiera’s biggest season of her career. We counted on her a lot this year. It’s exciting for her to go on and play.

“I know when she left the court that night that we got beat at the state finals, I kind of figured that that wouldn’t be the end of her career. I watched her grow each year and see her get stronger and more confident, and by the end of the season last year she was playing her best.

“I think she’ll be very successful there and I think she’ll contribute a lot to their offense.”

“Adelynn too was on that team that went to the state finals, and she got to experience that as well,” Shade said. “Adelynn is just a hard-nosed worker. She came into practice and worked hard. I know she’s played libero on her club team, and she is one that will go on and be very successful for their program.”

Most high school volleyball players, especially those that go on and play in college, have a strong background playing club volleyball.

Shade said, “It almost takes that now to play at the next level, playing in the off-season plus get noticed and recognized there.”

She said she feels girls made a good choice to go to Columbus.

“If you look at the IUPUC roster it’s a lot of local kids like Columbus North and Franklin, so it will be neat for all these kids to come together and play, and I think they’ll do really well.”

Jose Olivo is the head volleyball coach at IUPUC and was present at the signing and said he feels Anderson and Wischmeier can contribute to the program. He said there will be six incoming freshmen on the volleyball team at IUC this fall.

This will be the second year for the volleyball program at Columbus and last fall it was all freshmen on the roster.

“We will have a roster of 16 players this year,” Olivo said. “Last year we played more than half the season with only nine players, and all of them were freshmen.”

The two former Braves “are right what we need,” he said and mentioned one of the middle hitters is not returning. “Kera is coming in at a perfect time. Adelynn is an amazing defensive specialist that is going to help us make the defense stronger.

“I saw her play and I think she is going to be a great addition to our program. I am happy both of them are coming with us.”

The Crimson Pride finished 11th out of 14 teams in the River States Conference last fall.

“The expectations for this year are to go to the playoffs,” Olivo said. “The top eight got to the next round.