The BU volleyball team’s Cinderella season was not the tale of one superstar carrying a team through to the promised land, but much more the story of an entire team coming together to epitomize the concept of what a championship run is really about. Take any of the key players off of this team and the Bearcats probably fall to fourth or fifth in the conference, where they had waddled for the last couple years.

That being said, junior outside hitter Katie Brody, a soft-spoken transfer student from D-III Cortland, was the piece who combined a stellar all-around game with ice in her veins when everything was on the line, making her the choice for Pipe Dream’s second annual Female Athlete of the Year.

With the graduation of outside hitters Michele Heck and Jen Smith, head coach Glenn Kiriyama had to fill a big hole in his lineup. By bringing in Brody (and giving Katie Robertson a bigger role on the other side), Kiriyama not only solved the problem but improved the Bearcats’ hitting. Brody’s powerful arm and savvy timing put her among the best outside hitters in the America East, but her uncanny ability to shrug off pressure and drill a kill in a key situation is what makes her, in many people’s eyes, the best player in the conference.

Yes, Albany’s team was destined for greatness this year, with a squad that could challenge teams beyond the caliber of America East competition. But the Danes’ loss to Stony Brook in the semifinals (at Albany!) ended that discussion quickly.

Forget the Danes’ impressive statistical showings — Brody’s stellar performance in the conference championship after a year of proving the doubters wrong showed that, although she’s all about the team, she deserved AE MVP honors.

All year long, Brody was there when Binghamton needed her, averaging 3.63 kills per game — seventh in the conference. She also finished fifth in the AE in volleyball’s new points per game system, picking up 4.15 ppg. But statistics don’t do Brody justice. Like so many of the great crunch-time athletes — Michael Jordan, David Ortiz, Brandi Chastain — Brody’s best performances came when her team needed her most.

Brody’s most memorable performance came against Albany at the West Gym in an early-season battle for first place. The Bearcats had taken a surprising 2-1 lead in the match, but things were looking shaky against UA, with the score of the fourth game tied at 29. With the entire gym holding its collective breath, Brody took a set on the right side and practically knocked the air out of the ball with her fist, giving BU match point.

The ball came back to the Bearcats, and once again, the set went up to Brody. Bang. Brody flattened the ball to the floor, giving BU perhaps its biggest win in program history. The win catapulted volleyball to the spotlight of local sports, as BU’s match with Maine — another amazing victory — brought a school-record 680 people to an electrified West Gym.

The volleyball team’s thrilling run through the America East embodied what college sports are all about. Brody’s unshakable attitude and all-around excellence earns her PD’s annual honors, and we look forward to see how she and her team bounce back next year.

Congrats, Katie.