Valparaiso University volleyball head coach Carin Avery announced today that Michigan City alum Brooke Westphal has returned to Northwest Indiana and joined the Valpo volleyball program for the 2019 season. Westphal will have one season of eligibility remaining with the Brown and Gold.

“We are so very excited to welcome Brooke into our family,” said Avery. “She will bring a tremendous amount of competitiveness and grit to our program, and she will remind fans of our long line of outside hitters and defensive specialists who were big game hunters. Brooke also continues our tradition of welcoming some of the best local talent to our program. After a long absence from the court, we are so very excited to see her compete one last time for the Brown and Gold.”

A 5’8” outside hitter, Westphal spent her first two collegiate seasons at South Florida State College. As a sophomore in 2016, she led the National Junior College Athletic Association in digs/set (8.32) and earned First Team All-Conference honors. Westphal also was named NJCAA National Defensive Player of the Week midway through her sophomore season as well.

She was a two-time All-Conference recipient with the Panthers, as she received Second Team recognition in 2015 as a freshman as well. Following her time at South Florida State, Westphal walked on at Arizona State and joined the Sun Devils prior to the 2017 season before leaving the program early in the season without appearing in a match. 2019 will mark her first competitive action since the conclusion of South Florida State’s 2016 season.

Westphal was a standout locally at Michigan City H.S. during her prep career. A three-time All-Conference honoree for the Wolves, she earned multiple spots on Indiana All-Star and All-Region teams and received both Offensive and Defensive Team MVP honors during her time at Michigan City.

The addition of Westphal to Valpo’s roster rounds out the squad at 19 players entering the 2019 campaign, nine of which are newcomers to the program this season.