Jordan Fish

When North Branch juniors Jordan Fish and Catherine Brusie were in fourth grade, they had to attend their older sisters' volleyball matches, including tournaments that could last 10 hours. Bored with just watching, they often sneaked a ball into the hall and played pepper with each other.

From hallway castoffs to first-team all-state, North Branch volleyball players Jordan Fish and Catherine Brusie cherish friendship

And nearly as frequently, someone scolded them. "It was kind of like a game to us," said Fish, a setter. "We'd get yelled at, 'No balls in the hallway.' 'OK.' Then we'd run to a different hallway."

If they couldn't escape to another hall, they had to be water girls for the team. But they no longer have to hide in the shadows to play. The best friends led North Branch to the Class B state title this year and were named first-team all-state.

"Finally, it's our chance," Brusie said. "It's really cool that both of us are first team." Really cool once the players finally found out about their shared honor.

North Branch coach Jim Fish, Jordan's father, saw the all-state teams a week late because his region representative didn't e-mail him. Thankfully, his friend St. Louis coach Gary Stanglewicz, sent him the results. Jim called Brusie to congratulate her, and once the libero figured out why, she immediately told her family. Then, she texted Jordan to share in the good news.

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-1261357036904540043/from-hallway-castoffs-to-first-team-all-state-north-branch-volleyball-players-jordan-fish-and-catherine-brusie-cherish-friendship/