High school volleyball: Brunswick trio back for more in year four

Sara Krizsa, Bella DeBarr and Julia Jozefov knew they were ready to play varsity volleyball as freshmen. So did Brunswick coach Mande Luttner, who carved out roster spots for all three on a veteran-laden squad. The Blue Devils' returnees recognized their talent, as well, welcoming them onto the premier team in the Greater Cleveland Conference. All the ninth-graders had to do was carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, recognizing that every opponent was targeting their inexperience. "It was very overwhelming at the time, but having Julia and Sara there with me made it so much easier," DeBarr said. "Everyone in the program really made the adjustment very smooth. "The upperclassmen would always ask us to hang outside of volleyball, which was very cool as an incoming freshman, hanging out with the older girls." Three years and three GCC championships later, they are now "the older girls" with an opportunity to make history as seniors. Outside hitters Krizsa and DeBarr and middle hitter Jozefov can become the first Brunswick players to capture four conference crowns in the sport. "Winning four league titles is something that I never thought as a freshman would be possible," Krizsa said. "Seeing that it's possible is a really incredible thing, and to be part of it is even more special. "It's surreal to see what we've accomplished over the years and how far we've come." Along the way, their individual and collective development has been a joy to watch for their coaches, families and friends. The Blue Devils won outright league crowns in 2020 and 2021, then shared last year's title with Medina. This fall, each is serving as a co-captain and they are the unquestioned leaders of a squad that is heavily favored in the GCC. "We all have similar personalities, being supportive and driven, and pushing our team and each other to do our best," Jozefov said. "Being a captain is an honor and it would mean everything to win a fourth conference title with Sara and Bella." The 5-foot-11 Krizsa provides the power from the left side, drilling a team-best 284 kills and making 143 digs last year. She is arguably the hardest hitter among returning Medina County players. DeBarr, who stands 5-10, is a clever hitter and well-rounded six-position talent. She plays the game with flair and accuracy and collected 189 kills, 139 digs and 338 service returns as a junior. At 6-2, Jozefov anchors Brunswick's net defense and is capable of momentum-changing flurries. She ranked second in the county with 75 blocks in 2022, highlighted by a pair of 12-kill, six-rejection matches. No moment has been too big for them over the past two seasons, when each has taken over late in critical contests as the Blue Devils have won 19-of-20 GCC matches. "Sara, Bella and Julia also are three of the greatest kids I've ever coached," said Luttner, who has the second-most victories in county history. "They are coachable, humble and great teammates, who will truly make for extremely successful adults." There is one thing missing from their résumés, however. Brunswick has not advanced to a district final during their careers, playing six total tournament matches. Last season provided its most painful loss, dropping a five-setter to eventual Norwalk Division I Regional finalist Highland in the sectionals. When this postseason dawns, DeBarr, Jozefov and Krizsa plan on changing that. "That's one of our main goals, to have a long tournament run," Krizsa said. "We've come up short the last three years, so we want to make a deeper run as seniors and go out on a high note." Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com. Follow him @BrianDulik on Twitter.