Photo by Jake Olson: Former Martin County West alum Kari Brolsma is set to take over the Mavericks' volleyball program this fall.

SHERBURN – Kari Brolsma is returning to Martin County West. The former Maverick three-sport athlete will be wearing a different hat this coming fall, however. Instead of playing for the black, blue and white, she will be leading a program.

Brolsma was selected in June as the top candidate to take over the Mavericks volleyball team. The role became open after former head coach Kayla Zehms didn’t have her contract renewed last December.

It’s now Brolsma’s goal to continue the legacy Zehms and her coaching staff left. Zehms’ decade-plus tenure saw much success for MCW, including an 18-7 season in 2025 that ended with a loss to Sleepy Eye Saint Mary’s in the Class A Sections.

“Kayla and Jen Clow did an amazing job with them,” Brolsma said. “I just want to further the work they did for the program and not let it die.”

Brolsma’s time with the Mavericks was decades prior. Graduating in 1993, Brolsma was part of the first MCW volleyball team to reach the state tournament two years earlier, in 1991. Brolsma also participated in basketball and softball for the Mavericks.

She continued this multip-sport mindset during her athletic career at Willmar Community College, but eventually finished her degree in Mass Communications at St. Cloud State University.

After college, Brolsma spent three seasons as an assistant volleyball coach at Truman High School under the tutelage of Steve Schlager. Her move to the Twin Cities in early 2000 saw a handful of coaching opportunities during her 18-year stay, specifically at the Junior Olympic level.

Now, back in her home area, Brolsma is ready to put on her volleyball coaching hat once again. This time in the top position.

“I just knew that they [MCW] needed somebody. So I applied for it, interviewed and got the job,” Brolsma said. “I just wanted to step in and make sure they had a good season with somebody there who wants to be there to help along the way.”

Brolsma has already been setting up a handful of open-gym summer sessions to meet the team, give players some space to practice and assess their skills from afar. She will officially be able to coach the team during the Mavericks’ first practice of the season on August 17.

Until then, Brolsma can only wait in excitement as the off-season dwindles.

“I’m really excited,” Brolsma said. “It’s not because of their talent either. They are just a great group of kids and deserve to have somebody push them, for one, and just continue what Kayla and Jen have done. I wanted to make sure there was somebody in there who respected that and furthered the tradition.”

Brolsma’s mindset for the season right now is giving the athletes an opportunity to grow. Ensuring they enjoy the year and learn valuable lessons in athletics is an early pillar of Brolsma’s coaching foundation. Further X’s and O’s will develop once practice officially begins.

“I’m a competitive person, so I’m not going to say, ‘Oh, we’re just going to have fun,’ because I want them to win too, and so does the community,” Brolsma said. “But this isn’t my main goal. I want them to have fun, I want them to be good student athletes, and represent the school and the community well.”

“I want them to put every bit of effort on the floor,” she continued. “I played three sports in high school, and I played in college. Some of the lessons I learned playing sports, I’ve used my entire life.”