The most important thing a leader can do is step up when they are needed, and that’s exactly what senior Brie Rubel has done for St. Vincent volleyball this fall.
It all started in the offseason when the Indians were without a setter, which was when Rubel stood up and said, “Well, what about me?”
Rubel, who was named as one of St. Vincent’s two team captains as voted on by the players, is certainly no stranger to the position.
In fact, Rubel was named to the Class 2 All-State Team after proving to be one of the most versatile players in Missouri, playing both setter and libero throughout her junior year due to injuries on last year’s team.
This was the same team that Rubel helped guide to the state final four for the first time in over a decade, along with her twin sister and fellow all-state selection senior Kate Rubel.
Fellow seniors like the team’s other captain Callie Schnurbusch, Clara Clifton, Alaina Cates as well as junior Sophie Verseman were also keys to the Indians Class 2 third-place campaign.
While Rubel proved to be one of the best liberos in Missouri that season, St. Vincent desperately needed a player of her caliber serving as the team’s “quarterback.”
Rubel already had experience being the leader of the team as she was the Indians girls basketball team’s star point guard last winter. Along with being named all-state and taking home district player of the year honors, Rubel also led St. Vincent basketball to its first-ever state final four and state championship game appearance.
Like point guard, setter is arguably the most important position in volleyball as someone like Rubel is the player who runs the offense, delivers every pass to hitters, reads the defense and manages the game while making adjustments every play.
Being selfless in every aspect of both sports Rubel plays is something that comes natural to the senior leader.
“I’m really just doing it for the team,” Rubel said. “I know the potential we have, and with all the right players and all the right people that we have, we can really make it far and have a good year. Callie [Schnurbusch] and I have really stepped up into the captain roles and really tried to be great influences and keep everyone and the positivity together.”
With Rubel moving to setter, Schnurbusch took over for Rubel as the Indians libero. It’s been a seemingly effortless transition for both players as St. Vincent recently took second place in the silver bracket of the Visitation Tournament in St. Louis.
The Indians also swept a familiar Class 2 opponent Portageville last Tuesday at home as the Indians sit at 3-2 overall after the first two weeks of action.
In the Visitation Tournament, St. Vincent was actually without a head coach as former coach Darren Verseman was relieved of his position prior to the beginning of the season.
Thankfully, though, the school has since found a new head coach in Leeah Radil, who took over the position the day before the Indians’ matchup with Portageville.
“I feel like I’ve learned a lot of different things from all my past coaches,” Rubel said. “I love Radil’s energy and competitiveness. She’s told us she was a setter when she played, and I’m looking forward to learning from her.
“We have great senior leadership on this team. Coach Verseman had us ready to go for the Visitation Tournament, so we just rolled with it for that. We played really well as a team and continued to lift each other up all throughout the tournament.”
Radil, who was once a three-year starting setter at Notre Dame St. Louis High School, said the players have been more than welcoming to her. Prior to taking the job, Radil had served as a club coach for Rockwood Thunder for five years, even leading the program to national championships.
In practice, Rubel made a quick impression on Radil as the senior made it known to the first-year head coach on day one that she was going to do whatever was needed of her.
“From the very beginning, Rubel was like, ‘What do you want to change? What are we going to do? Tell me what I need to do and let’s do it,’” Radil recalled Rubel saying. “We talked about getting free ball plays involved because they told me they had never run them before. I told them, ‘Let’s start running them — I love free ball plays — they’re my favorite thing.’
“Rubel goes, ‘I will get all the other girls on board, and I know they will do it. Whatever you need, I’m here for you.’ That kind of leadership on the court is something that you look for in every player.”
If one were to watch a St. Vincent volleyball game this year, they’d not only notice that Rubel is running the offense as the Indians’ setter, but that she’s coaching on the court, too.
Along with giving positive, uplifting feedback on any given play, Rubel has also been helping her team by getting players lined up correctly if they are out of position.
“It’s very different because I haven’t had to do that until this season,” Rubel said. “But I know that I can help my teammates by being able to know where everyone is and being able to keep that clarified. That really helps us keep the flow.
“Everyone has stepped up and really dug into this team. We’re all rooting for each other and pulling for one another all the time. We’ve really been emphasizing positivity and keeping the team together.”
Another thing Radil enjoys about this team is how the players all have personalities that mesh well together and that no one has a negative attitude. This can be seen on display when these Indians are sharing a laugh, smile or helping hand.
These actions are simply what makes up the St. Vincent culture, which has been something that’s made the Rubel twins feel even more welcome after transferring to the school a few years back.
It’s also the type of camaraderie that could lead St. Vincent to a second-straight trip to the final four, or even win the state championship itself.
“For me and Kate, all of these girls mean a lot to us,” Rubel said. “Since we came here, they really let us into the circle, and the team made us feel that we are part of something a lot bigger than just volleyball. I think that’s how the culture is at St. Vincent — we all know that there’s more than just volleyball to this team. I’ve been able to make friendships through it and learn through a lot of other people.”
