Girls volleyball: Cook County All-Area captain Brookbank becomes elite outside hitter, carries on a family tradition

Last season as a sophomore, Kalyn Brookbank collected 82 kills on a Barrington team that posted a 28-10 record. Twelve months later, Brookbank enjoyed one of the finest single-season offensive seasons in Mid-Suburban League girls volleyball history pounding 528 kills.

So how did Fillies coach Michelle Mayer explain the offensive explosion in her lineup?

"Kalyn's work ethic and passion for the game led to her breakout season," Mayer said. "She is a hard worker, humble, kind and a great teammate."

And now she is among the all-time great volleyball players to compete in the Mid-Suburban League.

After leading the Fillies (25-13) to a MSL championship and regional title, Brookbank is the Captain of the 2025 Daily Herald Cook County girls volleyball All-Area team.

The MSL East Player of the Year, who is earning Division I college offers, also collected 274 digs and 50 aces.

Brookbank is not the first from her family to be honored by the Daily Herald.

Her mother Betsy was the 1996 Daily Herald Athlete of the Year while her aunts Annie and Nellie were Daily Herald All-Area captains.

"It’s really cool that my mom has been through what I'm going through right now," said Kayln. " She can relate to what I'm going through and help me through it. Which has impacted me so positively here at Barrington."

Kalyn's father Wade played volleyball for Lanigan High School in Canada. But hockey was his main sport and he ended up playing professional hockey for many years.

"Volleyball is such a huge part of our family. I have aunts, uncles, my sister, and my mom who played collegiate and professional volleyball who all pushed me and influenced me to be the player I am today," Brookbank said.

"Growing up it was always fun to pepper with my older sister in the backyard. That and watching the sport were really what made me want to play. My older sister and I started volleyball together when we were very young but started club in eighth grade. Last year we got to play together in high school and it was a very special part of my volleyball career so far."

A career that still has one season left for high school.

And Brookbank can't wait.

"My favorite part about volleyball is definitely the connections I make with my teammates," she said. "They are some of my best friends and I can’t imagine life without them."

When she began her high school career as a freshman, Brookbank never imagined she'd become the player she is today.

"Definitely not," she said. "Growing almost a foot since being a freshman has really changed the game for me. Instead of being mostly a back-row player I can finally reach over the net."

And she has reached the level of elite players in Illinois, being named to the all-state second team.

"I knew when she was a freshman she had the skill to be great and she grew into that this season," said Mayer, whose daughter Taylor was the Daily Herald Fox Valley captain three years ago when she played at Huntley High School. "Kalyn is athletic and has a high volleyball IQ."

Kayln's sister Addie had quite the skills, too.

She helped lead the Fillies the last three years and now plays at the University of North Carolina-Asheville where she is studying health science. Kalyn took her No. 5 this fall.

"It was my grandpa’s favorite number, then my sister started wearing No. 5 and it became a Brookbank thing," Kalyn said. "She wears it at UNC-Asheville now."

Perhaps Kayln will be wearing it one day at the collegiate level. She is not sure what she will study is leaning toward a path in the health field.

And, of course, she is looking forward to playing volleyball.

"I definitely look up to some collegiate players like Olivia Babcock (Pittsburgh), Harper Murray (Nebraska) and Madisen Skinner (former player for Kentucky and Texas who won three national championships and is now on the United States national team) who are all amazing pin hitters that I aspire to be like," she said.

"As far as my recruiting process goes I am currently narrowing down my list of schools."

For now, she is looking forward to completing her career at Barrington and most likely pounding some more kills to her career total of 628.

"I try to be as explosive as I can when attacking," Kalyn said." And on really focusing on my passing because it’s such an important aspect of the game.

“Barrington volleyball has experienced a lot of success the last few years. I loved watching all the teams compete at such a high level. Coach Mayer definitely runs a program with high standards and I'm honored to be a part of it."