How a trio of lifelong friends powered Wichita Northwest volleyball to state
For the past eight years, they’ve been side by side.
Through long club seasons, summer camps, heartbreaking losses and shared dreams.
Now, as seniors on the Wichita Northwest volleyball team, Brooklyn Benoit, Gyntre Fletcher and Reese Johnson are savoring the moment they’ve been chasing together since they were 10 years old: leading a team to the state tournament.
The Grizzlies clinched their berth to the Class 6A state bracket with authority on Saturday, sweeping through their home sub-state with wins over Liberal (25-13, 25-12) and Topeka (25-5, 25-4).
After losing at home in a sub-state final last year, Saturday’s victory wasn’t just about returning to Salina — it was about redemption.
“That was such a gut-wrenching loss, so we came back this year with so much motivation,” Benoit said. “This is our senior year and we’re going to play for each other. We know if we trust our craft, we can beat anybody.”
That belief has carried Northwest (30-6) to 16 straight wins entering Friday’s state opener at Tony’s Pizza Events Center. It’s the program’s first trip back since 2022. Under second-year head coach De’Janae Bridwell, a 2018 Northwest graduate and former Division I standout herself, the Grizzlies have become one of Wichita’s most complete teams.
“They’re like sisters out there,” Bridwell said of her senior core. “It’s nice to have a veteran group who look out for each other and want to handle business.”
Wichita Northwest volleyball led by seniors
Benoit, Fletcher and Johnson first teamed up as fifth graders, back when Benoit’s mom coached their club team.
What started as three kids just learning how to play has evolved into a trio with chemistry that’s only earned through years of playing together. It’s easy to spot on the court.
“There’s so much trust between each other,” Benoit said. “I know when I’m out there, they always have my back. I trust them so much. We’re all best friends off the court, too, and I think that really helps.”
That connection has translated into one of the most potent offenses in Class 6A. Benoit has blossomed into the go-to attacker and six-rotation star who leads the Grizzlies with 335 kills (4.5 per set) while hitting .341 and providing top-notch play on the back row. Fletcher is the steady hand that makes it all flow, dishing out 747 assists at nearly 10 per set. And Johnson, the libero who anchors the defense, has piled up 376 digs (5.1 per set) while giving Northwest a reliable presence in serve-receive.
“If something is off, like if (Benoit) needs a set a little bit higher or a little bit lower, we can communicate with each other really well,” Fletcher said. “We’re always talking to each other and I think that trust shows up on the court.”
Northwest’s offense has overwhelmed so many opponents this season because of its depth. Benoit leads the way, but Fletcher has plenty of talented hitters to pick out in Braelyn Williams, Karissa Patterson, Johanna Fountain and Amelia Bootsma.
“It’s really fun, but it can also be challenging at times,” Fletcher said of running the offense. “But I think it’s good to have a challenge on your back. It can help with your leadership skills and it builds that trust with your teammates, knowing who is going to put the ball away at the right time.”
Wichita Northwest led by young coach, veteran group
When Bridwell returned to her alma mater, she knew playing in the state tournament was the expectation.
After the heartbreak of last season’s sub-state loss, she didn’t sulk. She went to work to figure out how to get better in just her third year removed from a standout Division I volleyball career at Kansas City.
“I took a lot of time to reflect since I am younger and I don’t know everything,” said Bridwell said. “I leaned on my resources, from club coaches to college coaches I played for. I’m a young coach, but I’m a very competitive coach, so I wanted to figure out if I missed the mark or could have handled something better. We went into this season with a lot of goals and for the most part, we’ve accomplished them and that feels good.”
It has certainly helped a young coach to have such a veteran group, as Northwest features six seniors on its roster: Benoit, Bootsma, Fletcher, Johnson and Williams, plus defensive specialist Allison Jabara.
It helps even more having a standout like Benoit, a Washburn commit who has elevated her all-around game as a senior.
“Brooklyn has handled everything we have given her,” Bridwell said. “It’s pretty rare to come across somebody with that kind of talent for the back row and in serve-receive, then watch her come to the front row and put up the numbers she’s put up. She handles that pressure with grace and not once has she ever complained or said that it’s too much to handle. She always wants the ball.”
For the trio of Northwest standout seniors, this week isn’t just another tournament — it’s the culmination of nearly a decade of shared effort.
That chemistry — equal parts talent, trust and years of experience — is exactly why they believe the Grizzlies aren’t just happy to be back in the state field. They’re ready to make noise.
“Honestly, if we play the same way we played (Saturday),” Fletcher said. “We were lights out. We all had really good communication and our energy was unmatched. We had really good crowd support. So we just have to carry that same fire with us to state.”
Wichita-area high school volleyball sub-state scores
Class 6A volleyball scores
Washburn Rural final—Washburn Rural def. Maize, 25-11, 25-21. Semis—Washburn Rural def. Wichita West, 25-11, 25-4; Maize def. Wichita East, 25-18, 25-14.
Wichita Northwest final—Wichita Northwest def. Topeka, 25-5, 25-4. Semis—Wichita Northwest def. Liberal, 25-13, 25-12; Topeka def. Wichita North, 25-19, 25-23.
Manhattan final—Manhattan def. Derby, 25-19, 25-19. Semis—Manhattan def. Campus, 25-11, 25-13; Derby def. Dodge City, 25-16, 14-25, 25-20.
Garden City final—Lawrence Free State def. Garden City, 25-13; 25-16. Semis—Garden City def. Wichita Heights, 25-8, 27-25; Lawrence Free State def. Wichita Southeast, 25-5, 25-7.
Class 5A volleyball scores
Bishop Carroll final—Carroll def. Andover, 25-18, 25-17. Semis—Carroll def. Newton, 25-22, 25-14; Andover def. Eisenhower, 25-22, 19-25, 25-16.
Maize South final—Maize South def. Hutchinson, 25-10, 25-14. Semis—Maize South def. Goddard, 25-16, 25-9; Hutchinson def. Salina Central, 22-25, 25-18, 25-20.
Great Bend final—Great Bend def. Andover Central, 25-19, 25-19. Semis—Great Bend def. Valley Center, 25-20, 25-20; Andover Central def. Emporia, 25-23, 23-25, 25-21.
Kapaun Mt. Carmel final—Kapaun def. Salina South, 26-24, 25-10. Semis—Kapaun def. Topeka West, 25-13, 25-10; Salina South def. Hays, 25-22, 26-24.
Class 4A volleyball scores
Andale final—Andale def. Abilene, 25-16, 25-17. Semis—Andale def. Hugoton, 25-5, 25-12; Abilene def. Concordia, 25-15, 25-23. Play-in—Hugoton def. El Dorado, 25-22, 25-22.
Clay Center final—Clay Center def. Rose Hill, 25-16, 25-7. Semis—Clay Center def. Winfield, 25-10, 25-7; Rose Hill def. Pratt, 26-24, 22-25, 25-17. Play-in—Winfield def. Augusta, 25-16, 25-16.
McPherson final—McPherson def. Wellington, 25-19, 25-18. Semis—McPherson def. Ulysses, 25-10, 25-10; Wellington def. Clearwater, 25-22, 25-15.
Mulvane final—Buhler def. Mulvane, 25-19, 25-18. Semis—Mulvane def. Chapman, 25-19, 25-8; Buhler def. Circle, 25-23, 25-21.
Class 3A volleyball scores
Halstead final—Hesston def. Garden Plain, 25-14, 23-25, 25-21. Semis—Garden Plain def. Halstead, 25-19, 25-23; Hesston def. Burlington, 25-19, 25-21.
Wichita Trinity final—Wichita Trinity def. Cheney, 26-24, 20-25, 26-24. Semis—Wichita Trinity def. Collegiate, 25-18, 25-11; Cheney def. Chaparral, 25-14, 25-13.
Class 2A volleyball scores
Humboldt final—Humboldt def. Bluestem, 25-15, 22-25, 25-18. Semis—Humboldt def. Cherokee-Southeast, 25-9, 25-7; Bluestem def. Dexter, 25-13, 26-24.
Conway Springs final—Conway Springs def. St. Mary’s Colgan, 26-28, 25-22, 25-17. Semis—Conway Springs def. Classical, 25-8, 25-13; St. Mary’s Colgan def. Erie, 25-13, 25-17.
Moundridge final—Hillsboro def. Moundridge, 25-23, 25-22. Semis—Moundridge def. Chase County, 25-13, 25-11; Hillsboro def. Sedgwick, 25-18, 25-18.
Bennington final—Valley Heights def. Inman, 25-20, 22-25, 25-14. Semis—Inman def. Bennington, 25-15, 25-14; Valley Heights def. Berean, 27-25, 25-15.
Medicine Lodge final—Oakley def. Medicine Lodge, 25-15, 19-25, 19-25. Semis—Medicine Lodge def. Stanton County, 25-15, 25-18; Oakley def. Thomas More Prep, 25-19, 25-21.
Class 1A Division 1 volleyball scores
Little River final—Little River def. Olpe, 25-13, 25-15. Semis—Little River def. Sedan, 25-7, 25-7; Olpe def. Colony-Crest, 25-18, 25-20.
Flinthills final—Goessel def. Flinthills, 25-16, 25-22. Semis—Flinthills def. Burden-Central, 25-17, 24-26, 25-19; Goessel def. Canton-Galva, 25-19, 25-14.
South Gray final—South Gray def. South Central, 25-16, 25-15. Semis—South Gray def. Pretty Prairie, 25-16, 25-14; South Central def. Meade, 25-14, 18-25, 25-14.
Spearville final—Spearville def. St. John, 25-13, 23-25, 26-24. Semis—Spearville def. Macksville, 25-6, 25-19; St. John def. Norwich, 25-8, 25-19.
Class 1A Division 2 volleyball scores
Hanover final—Hanover def. Hutchinson Central Christian, 25-15, 25-9. Semis—Hanover def. Stafford, 25-5, 25-5; Hutchinson Central Christian def. Elyria Christian, 24-26, 25-14, 25-14.
Ingalls final—Ingalls def. Moscow, 25-12, 25-23. Semis—Ingalls def. Cunningham, 25-10, 25-13; Moscow def. South Barber, 24-26, 25-16, 25-19.
Attica final—Bucklin def. Attica, 15-25, 27-25, 25-20. Semis—Attica def. Ashland, 25-15, 25-19; Bucklin def. Satanta, 25-19, 25-11.
This story was originally published October 26, 2025 at 6:03 AM.
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