Lafayette Jeff boys volleyball returns core players in 2025

LAFAYETTE — Crawley Center was nearly empty in the afternoon after a massive bout took place between Lafayette Jeff and Harrison boys volleyball.

A match between two local rivals that took the roughly 100 fans in attendance on a roller coaster 4-set ride.

Ultimately it was Harrison who advanced after rallying from 23-19 in set four to win 31-29. And it was junior Kevin Braxton and sophomore outside hitter Joshua Waller embracing its senior kills leader Gabe Brandenburg.

"I want them to learn that a good hitter doesn't always get the kill," Brandenburg said. "A good hitter always puts the defense out of position to the setter so he has to make that hard set or the hitter has to make a hard hit and those plays have a greater chance of failing."

Wisdom aside, Lafayette Jeff managed to end its season on a competitive note given its early season struggles. Waller, a 6-foot athlete with college potential missed the first 11 games of the season after breaking his foot.

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That left veterans like Braxton and Brandenburg to lead and piece together a back row and group of hitters who had minimal competitive volleyball experience. Just two seniors played on the Bronchos roster in 2024.

Lafayette Jeff (11-21) lost six straight matches to open the year with Braxton and Brandenburg being forced to exert extra effort on serve and shot receives.

"The biggest change was us being a team," Waller said. "Before we played as individuals trying to get highlights, kills and trying to only score our points. Now it was more a game and we get team highlights. We put ourselves on the map when we played as a team."

The Bronchos found themselves back in the sectional title contenders' conversation after sweeping Harrison on the road on April 11.

While Harrison bounced back with a sweep of its own against Lafayette Jeff at Crawley Center two weeks later, the trio of Waller, Brandenburg and Braxton saw improvement.

There was a confidence and swagger Lafayette Jeff brought with each point it scored and a fire that reached its apex at the end of the season.

Lafayette Jeff wouldn't get to the sectional title game but the foundational pieces were cemented. Waller emerged as one of the area's more well-rounded players as both a defensive specialist and outside hitter. Brandenberg and Braxton were each finding more kill opportunities with junior Brody Bettag settling into his role at libero while sophomore Azlan Rodriguez became a more consistent offensive option off the bench.

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"It shows we can do as much work as the other sports," Braxton said. "I think this game shows we can fight, win and pull everything together."

All told, Lafayette Jeff offered a sample size of what it could be after a memorable battle in the IBVCA semifinals which will be the IHSAA semifinals in a year after boys volleyball recently became a recognized sport by the largest governing sports body in Indiana.

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached atehanson@gannett.com, on Twitter at EthanAHansonand Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.