Brenly Walker thought her volleyball playing days may have ended after high school. She wasn’t sold on playing at the college level until receiving a call from Eastfield coach Phil Nickel.
“I remember him telling me before I committed, ‘If you come here, you’re going to be a national champion,’” Walker said.
Those words proved prophetic as the Harvester Bees won back-to-back national championships in Walker’s two seasons. Eastfield capped this season by sweeping Minnesota West Community & Technical College for the national championship in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Nov. 16.
Walker, Nickel and the rest of the team were recognized at Dallas College’s Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday.
Asked about the team’s success, outside hitter Carli Banks said: “Honestly, it’s the talent we have on the team. When we came together, everyone had something to bring. Each person contributed something completely different. Some people brought this, some people brought that, and it all came together.
“It created this foundation of aggressiveness, competitiveness and just grit — we all wanted to win. That’s really what took us far, especially this year.”
Eastfield finished the season 34-1. The Bees swept their final nine opponents, including six in postseason play. Banks, Azoria Davis and Taryn Doiron were named NJCAA Division III First Team All-Americans. Walker earned second-team honors.
It’s been quite the ride for everyone associated with the program. There’s no question Nickel turned his vision into reality as players such as Walker bought in.
“(The recruiting phone call) is something I’ll never forget,” Walker said. “He was so passionate about building a strong and impactful team. He wanted to make history. He wanted to change the program. He was selling his players the same idea.
“It was a will be — it wasn’t an if. It was a ‘we are going to be a national team.’”