Brenna Garrigan, a freshman outside hitter, decided to follow her brothers Brayden and Blake’s paths by attending Providence. Witnessing the Class 3A Washington Supersectional in eighth grade, where the Celtics qualified for state with a two-game win, confirmed her decision. She expressed her excitement about joining, saying, “That was really fun to watch. It was a great team. I couldn’t wait to be a part of it.”
Standing at 5-foot-5, Garrigan has become a critical player for Providence, leading the team in hits. In a recent match against Andrew in Tinley Park, she contributed seven kills, helping the team secure a 25-13, 25-14 nonconference victory. Providence’s Kennady Kotowski added six kills, Olivia Healy provided 20 assists, Lily Lipke achieved five aces, and Juju Batshon scored four.
Andrew’s team included sophomore outside hitter Lainey Pranckus with five kills and Kodi Campbell with three. Garrigan plans to play basketball and softball at Providence, managing a busy schedule while making a strong impact in volleyball.
“Having a 5-5 player who can jump over me made it a lot easier to decide she can play in the front row,” said Providence coach Lee Rucinski.
Rucinski emphasized the philosophy of placing the best players at the varsity level without benching underclassmen. Garrigan, capable of playing as libero, excels in both back and front row positions.
“She could have been our starting libero when she was in sixth grade,” Rucinski praised, highlighting her ball control and volleyball IQ.
Before facing Andrew, Garrigan led her team with 67 kills, 69 serve receptions, and ranked second with 39 digs and 12 aces. Healy quickly recognized her capabilities.
“Where do I start? She’s amazing,” said Healy. “I know that when I set her the ball, she’s going to do something with it.”
Garrigan’s fast connection with Healy on the court and her exceptional jumping ability have made her a standout player. She previously played a key role for Oak Prairie, leading the team to a third-place finish at the Illinois Elementary School Association state finals in Class 4A.
Playing varsity is not intimidating for Garrigan, who often competed in higher age categories during club seasons. Her volleyball journey began when her mother, Jane, coached a fourth-grade team, inviting her to play despite being in kindergarten.
While Brenna’s growth potential remains, she embraces challenges and aims to prove skeptics wrong.
“I love the challenge,” she stated. “People come in and look at me and say, ‘Aw, you’re not very tall.’ I just love rising to the challenge and the adrenaline is what really gets me going.”