Ella Brodner, Jupiter Christian senior; Hannah VanZwieten, Boca Raton Christian sophomore

Jupiter Christian senior outside hitter Ella Brodner reached 400 kills in a single season for the first time while Boca Raton Christian sophomore Hannah VanZwieten delivered a remarkable performance throughout the playoffs to lift the Blazers to their first girls
volleyball state championship in school history.

The two top performers were recognized as the Sun Sentinel’s Palm Beach 4A-1A girls volleyball co-players of the year.

Brodner, a University of Virginia signee, had 400 kills, 5.7 kills per set and a .336 hitting percentage in just 70 sets played. She also added 244 service receptions, 218 digs, 39 aces and 25 blocks. She had 35 kills in four sets in a district semifinal victory.

Brodner holds the school record with 1,488 kills and 944 digs during her five seasons with the Eagles. She recalled a victory against Jupiter during her junior season as one of her most memorable matches in high school.

“I met the expectations I had set for myself since I came in the eighth grade,” Brodner said. “To end with 400 kills in a season was pretty cool. It’s exciting to hold school records. I could not have done it without any of my teammates. Coach Sarah [Mize] helped me with my mental toughness. I wanted to be an all-around player on the court. I made amazing memories and volleyball is so much fun. It was heartwarming to see little girls look up to me and how they were inspired because of how I play volleyball.”

Brodner took on a leadership role with several newcomers joining the Eagles. “When I was in the eighth grade, I was intimidated by most of the girls,” Brodner said.

“Allison Moore was a great leader and a big influence on me. She spent time helping me with volleyball. I wanted to be a big influence on our younger players. It was a rebuilding year and I knew it was going to be difficult, but I decided to stay. It’s a great
feeling to help the girls.”

Brodner enjoyed watching her two older sisters at volleyball practices and tournaments. She joined the Jupiter Elite Volleyball Club at 7. She helped her team qualify for nationals in multiple seasons.

“The growth of our club has been amazing,” Brodner said. “All the coaches helped in my development and to where I am now.” Brodner is excited about the opportunity to play with her older sister, Sarah, at the University of Virginia.

“My sister and I have been really getting close and it’s an amazing opportunity,” Brodner said. “I’m extremely blessed to get to play with her. The ACC is very competitive and I’m excited for college volleyball.”

VanZwieten delivered for the Blazers during their playoff run to capture the state title. She had 13 kills and 12 digs in the regional championship, 19 kills, 23 digs and six aces in the state semifinal and 12 kills and 15 digs in the state championship match.

VanZwieten displayed her versatility with 254 kills, 270 digs, 221 service receptions, 157 assists, 53 aces and 30 blocks during her sophomore season.

“We lost players from last year who had played a big role,” VanZwieten said. “The difference was that we played together as a team. Our coaches did a great job and we handled the pressure. We were so happy to push through and win the semifinal against Seacrest. We practiced hard and stayed focused during the final match. We were so excited to win it.”

VanZwieten’s older sister, Grace, plays collegiate volleyball at Tusculum. Her mom serves as an assistant coach at Boca Raton Christian.

She also competes in beach volleyball tournaments with her sister, Mackenzi, who was a key contributor for the Blazers during their championship run. The sisters won a thrilling beach volleyball tournament in Tavares during a college showcase event.

“I have a lot of fun playing with Mackenzi and we connect really well,” VanZwieten said. “We have that experience together in beach volleyball and it’s helped us when playing indoor. It’s been very special.”

VanZwieten, a setter with Tribe Volleyball Club, displayed her versatility at outside hitter for the Blazers during her sophomore season.

“I was able to get out of my comfort zone and work on my game to get better,” VanZwieten said. “I played with a lot of energy and cheered on my teammates.