Brittany Randel story

A fixture on the 18s circuit and a star for the Arlington Colts the past three seasons, Brittany Randel is one of the state's top players. She's also one of the most unique.

Brittany's Story

Feb. 24 — Call Brittany Randel’s cell phone and you are greeted with the following message: “Hi this is Brittany. If you are calling about a truck driving job I am not a truck driver...."

“There’s a story there,” says Brittany. “People kept leaving messages asking for a truck driver. Don’t ask me why. I finally had to change my message. And then one person got mad at me for saying I wasn’t a truck driver.”

It seems that there is always a story with Brittany. For example, there is her e-mail address: “sawdust”

“That’s another story,” she says. “When I was seven or eight we had some friends over and I was talking to them when my brother just broke in and started talking. So I said, ‘what am I, sawdust?' I know it doesn’t make any sense, but it was the first thing I thought of. My dad has called me sawdust every since.”

Or how about her strange habits of never eating with the big fork or never setting her alarm clock on a zero or a five.

"I just never liked big forks,” she says. “I don't really know why I formed these habits. I'm not superstitious, but I can't set my alarm clock to zeros or fives. I’ll set them to six thirty-three but not six thirty-five or six thirty."

Of course Randel is no trucker and she’s certainly not “sawdust” when it comes to volleyball. Perhaps she's a little strange? “I’m just a very happy person,” she says.

At 6'2", she’s also one of the state’s top middles. Since her sophomore year, when she was playing middle for North Dallas’ top 18s team, she’s been considered one of the state’s best. An all-state performer for the Arlington Colts, she’s trained with the High Performance and Youth A2 programs and this fall she will take the court as a North Carolina Tar Heel (“There’s a story there.”)

At the moment she’s also injured, having suffered a high ankle sprain at the Tour of Texas stop in San Marcos.Out of the boot now and beginning physical therapy, Brittany should be able to start passing and serving in a couple of weeks and she hopes to be back on the court full-time in a month.

"It has been very difficult to have to sit on the side and watch my team play, when I would rather be on the court," she said. "However, I am encouraged to find that my ankle seems to be healing quickly."

It’s been a career of highs and an occasional low as her high school team has come within a game or two of a state tournament berth every year. After having played for North Dallas 18s the past two years, she joined Team Texas this season.

It's a decision that made Team Texas coach Frankie Velez happy for a number of reasons.

"Every time I think about what to tell you about Brittany, I get this smile on my face," said Velez. "That is pretty much how it goes when she is around. She is a kid that has always put a smile on my face. I was part of the coaching staff on the USA High Performance Red team when we played in the World tournament in Salt Lake City 2000. Brittany was on that team with Michelle (Moriarty) and (Team Texas-teammate) Lauren Robbins (Ennis). That is where I met Brittany and her wonderful family. We have stayed in touch through the years and she always has that smile in her face.

"I have so much I could tell you and I can do it with a smile on my face," he continued. "That is how wonderful I think this girl is."

So as one of the top Texas high school and club careers winds down, we asked Brittany to look back and share some "stories" that put a smile on her face.

How did you get started in volleyball?

I played one season of YMCA in fourth grade, then started club in the fifth.

Were you playing other sports, too?

I played soccer until third grade. I stopped for two years and started again in the fifth. I also played basketball from about third through seventh grade, but I hurt my knee in the eighth grade. I came back in time for basketball season, but I didn't want to do too much (with the knee) so I didn’t play. I haven’t had any problems since.

I had already put my focus on volleyball. In junior high I also ran track and cross country. Actually I'm not very good at basketball. I’m not very aggressive. I don't really have a mean bone in my body and that’s not good if you want to play basketball.

Your high school career is over and this is your last season of club, so what are your feelings now that it's all winding down?

It's weird. Knowing this is the last season of club and then knowing that next year I’m going to Carolina. It’s a good feeling and a nervous one at the same time.

What were your feelings after your last high school game (a regional semifinal loss to Amarillo)?

I didn’t go into game thinking we would lose and when it was over it took me awhile to realize “I don't have a game tomorrow.” It just didn't hit me. It had been a very emotional week at school. A very popular girl died from cancer the Wednesday before. She was an awesome athlete and that whole week was very emotional.”

What was the highlight of your high school career?

Playing (Arlington) Martin was always a big deal. Those are games you'll never forget — the feeling of being in that gym totally packed with people and you are out there playing.

With club it's an amazing feeling. I’ve played with those girls since fifth grade and I love them all to death. Off the court we are laughing and playing together. It’s really great, all the travel and the excitement. I really like all the girls I've met through club.

After so many years with North Dallas, how did you decide to play for Team Texas this year?

Frankie was the coach my first year at High Performance and we kept in contact. When he came up with Team Texas last year I thought it was a good idea. Then at the end of last year I played with them in Florida and had the best time.

Frankie's awesome. He never gives up on you. He has so much energy and he knows how to explain things so you'll get it.

I had been with her at High Performance. She’s a quarterback on the team, exactly like a setter should be. She makes sure she gets the ball to the hitter and she has perfect sets all the time.

I did High Performance the summer after eighth grade and for the next three years. The third year I did the Youth A2. Last summer I decided to take time off from doing as much as I usually do.

I visited A&M, TCU, Baylor, Georgia Tech and I was supposed to go to Indiana the next day after I visited North Carolina. I got there (North Carolina) and I fell in love with it. They had told me that their main goal was to get me up there. I went to a class with a girl and my mom said that when I walked out she saw it in my eyes. She was ready to buy a North Carolina shirt right then. And I want to study business and it’s a top business school. They have great coaches. But I just had that magical feeling everyone talks about when you know you have found the right place.

I've met two of the other girls who are going to be freshmen and we talk online. I’m excited. We have a very good (incoming freshman) class.

I was so set on staying in Texas, but my parents insisted on me seeing other schools and other parts of the country. After my visit I got in the car and said “mom, this is where I want to go.” The tough part was telling my best friend. She started crying.

I asked my high school coach (Sue Cauley) and she said my leadership on and off the court and my overall knowledge of the game. The leadership is something I've always had. That's been very natural for me.

You were playing 18s on one of the top club teams as a sophomore. Did you feel a little overwhelmed?

It was weird. I was nervous. Actually, I never got play with my own age group until this year. I never played with my friends until my senior year of high school. I really liked playing 18s. I'm glad I did it. At the beginning of the first season I could tell a difference. It was so fast and the girls were all big, but by the end of the season I had adjusted.

You've played 18s for three years now. Is it easier or are the girls getting tougher?

It's both. The level of volleyball is always getting better, but I'm a lot more used to the quick pace of the game now.

My lateral movement, which is always hard for tall girls, and my quickness and my vertical.

Growing up did you have any sports heroes?

I'm going to say it was Nolan Ryan. I’ve always liked Nolan Ryan. I loved going to Rangers games and watching him play.

My parents and my brother were always there for me and set great Christian examples. We're really close.

A lot of people think I'm intimidating because I’m tall. But I'm hyper and goofy. I’m a very happy person.

Who is the toughest player you ever played against?

I don’t have just one. Last year in Vegas we played Vision and I thought we would get murdered. We were playing against (Diane) Copenhagen, (Jessica) Gysin, (Colby) Lyman and I felt like I hung with them.

My first year on varsity we were playing Martin in the Martin gym. Laura Jones was still there and I hit Laura in the face and she fell down. I will never forget that one play. I think she hit me the next time, but still I got her the first time.

I really like peanut butter and jelly. I read a lot ... anything. I hang out a lot and I like rock alternative. The Dave Matthews Band is my best band.

What advice would you give to a young girl who wants to be like Brittany Randel?

You don’t have to be mean to be good, you just have to play with a lot of heart and have fun. Coaches always say to me, "you have to be meaner." And I say "no you don't have to be mean, that's why I chose the sport."