3A-A volleyball athlete of the year: Morgan Broekhuis, CSCS

Recognition and success are nothing new for Morgan Broekhuis.

Check out a gallery of photos featuring Morgan.

As a senior, the 6-foot-5 left-hander claimed a fourth consecutive Class 3A title with Colorado Springs Christian School and garnered Athlete of the Year honors from The Gazette for the third straight season.

“I don’t really play for the awards or prizes, but it’s a good honor,” she said.

Broekhuis improved significantly — primarily in court awareness — last summer as the second-youngest member of the under-19 Team USA squad.

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Her superior play spurred an undefeated season for the Lions, who have been coached the past three years by Morgan’s father, Mike.

“It makes things a lot easier when you have a player the caliber of Morgan on the floor,” he said. “She’s matured a lot and is so much more consistent. I get spoiled watching her.”

With his daughter possessing so many skills suited for the sport, it’s not easy for the coach to pinpoint the key aspect of her game.

“You can’t discard the height,” he said. “But she also has great ability to see the court and a variety of shots. I think that’s what will set her apart in college.”

Broekhuis signed last month with Nebraska and will enroll next semester, eschewing her final season of high school basketball in order to get a head start on her freshman volleyball season.

“It’s always tough for a kid to make a big decision like that, but I think she needs to be challenged,” Mike Broekhuis said. “I think she’ll relish being a regular player for a while and not have so much on her shoulders.”

Broekhuis said she was excited about heading to Lincoln, where she will work out with the Cornhuskers during the offseason.

“I’ll have to fight for a spot,” she said, noting that Nebraska loses only one player from this year’s team to graduation.

Eventually, Broekhuis might be good enough to play professionally or for the 2016 Olympic team.

“She’s that kind of player, they say,” Mike Broekhuis said, alluding to USA Volleyball coaches.