Career (2019-23): Brianna put together a great five-year collegiate career with four seasons at Arkansas Tech and one season with the Hawks. In 2021, she helped Arkansas Tech to a 22-8 record, 13-3 in the GAC, along with a GAC Tournament Championship, securing the program's first NCAA tournament bid since the 2017 season. In her only season with the Hawks, Brianna helped QU to a 24-6 record and a second consecutive NCAA tournament berth, and her 1268 assists in a single season rank third in Quincy women's volleyball history. Across five seasons, Merkel appeared in 129 matches and totaled 466 sets, where she had 430 kills (0.92 K/S), 3577 assists (7.68 A/S), 113 service aces, 1004 digs (2.15 D/S), and 155 total blocks for 629.0 total points (1.35 P/S).
-Â Â GLVC First Team All Conference (2023)
-Â Â 2x All-GAC Honorable Mention
-Â Â All-GAC Tournament Team (2021)
-Â Â GAC All-Academic Team (2020)
-Â Â GAC Setter of the Week (9/30/19)
2023 (Graduate): In her lone season with the Hawks, Brianna served as the primary setter, appearing and starting in 30 matches for a total of 114 sets. She totaled 1268 assists, which was third in the GLVC and 13th in Division II. Her 11.12 assists per set was second in the GLVC and seventh in Division II. Merkel also had 64 kills, 38 service aces, 275 digs (2.41 D/S), and 38 total blocks. Brianna averaged 42.3 assists per game and had a season-high 61 assists in a five-set victory over Rockhurst (10/27/23), which was the same game she had her season-high 21 digs.
-Â Â GLVC First Team All-Conference
2022 (Senior at Arkansas Tech): In her final season at Arkansas Tech, Brianna appeared in 28 matches, starting in 23, where she totaled 95 sets. She had 375 assists (3.95 A/S), 173 kills (1.82 K/S), 24 service aces, 193 digs (2.03 D/S), and 24 total blocks for 209.5 points (2.21 P/S). She had a season-high 43 assists against Newman (9/3/22), one of eight games with 20 or more assists. She also had a career-high 14 kills two different times, as she had five matches with double-digit kills.
2021 (Junior at Arkansas Tech): In her junior season, Merkel played and started in all 30 matches, where she led the team with 826 assists, averaging 7.65 assists per set. She had 23 matches with 20 assists or more, 13 matches with 30 assists or more, and four matches with 40 assists or more. Brianna had a season-high 52 assists against Oklahoma Baptist (11/20), a season-high six kills against Southwestern Oklahoma State (11/19)and a season-high four block assists three times.
-Â Â All-GAC Tournament Team
2020 (Sophomore at Arkansas Tech): In the shortened season, Brianna played in all 12 matches, making nine starts, where she led the team with 339 assists, averaging 7.21 assists per set. She had 10 matches with 20 or more assists and a team-high six double-doubles. Merkel had a season-high 46 assists against Henderson State (02/09/21), a season-high five kills twice (01/26/21,03/09/21), and a season-high four blocks assists against Henderson State (02/09/21).
-Â Â All-GAC Honorable Mention
-Â Â GAC All-Academic Team
2019 (Freshman at Arkansas Tech): As a freshman, Merkel played in 29 matches, making 16 starts, where she led the team with 769 assists, averaging 7.54 per set. She had 12 matches with 30 or more assists and a season-high 56 assists against Henderson State (09/26/19) along with a season-high 30 digs against Ouachita Baptist (10/01/9). Despite being a setter, she produced a season-high seven kills against Southern Arkansas (11/14/19).Â
-Â Â All-GAC Honorable Mention
-Â Â GAC Setter of the Week (9/30/19)
Personal: Brianna Merkel hails from Franklin, Wisconsin, where she attended Franklin High School and played for the Sabers. She is the daughter of Todd and Denise Merkel and has two siblings, Bella and Ben. A standout student-athlete, Brianna was a member of the National Honor Society and a two-time Scholar Athlete during her high school years.
On the court, she earned 2x All-State Honorable Mention honors and was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year and SEC Player of the Year twice. Her team captured regional championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Brianna also made her mark in the record books, holding three program records: 14 aces in a match, 124 aces in a season, and 269 career aces.
She continued her academic and athletic journey at Arkansas Tech University, where she graduated with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration and Accounting and Finance. Off the court, Brianna enjoys being outdoors and spending quality time with friends and family. Her favorite athlete is Lauren Carlini, and she cheers for the Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers.
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Why QU?
I chose QU because I was looking for a school where I could get my MBA and continue my volleyball career. From the minute I stepped on campus, the coaching staff and players made me feel welcomed and right at home.
