COUNTDOWN TO NJCAA VOLLEYBALL REGIONALS: Spotlight on Jynx Bretz

Future traveling nurse traveling to playoffs

By GREG SPITZ

Jynx Bretz is a freshman at Cuyahoga Community College and one of the captains for the Triceratops Women's volleyball team. 

The 5-foot-10-inch right-sider and defensive specialist from Crestwood High School, she has been playing volleyball since her middle school days, including six years for JO (club) volleyball and four years for her high school.  Most college teams have concluded their seasons, but Bretz will continue her journey on a very good Tri-C team that is heading to the NJCAA Region XII tournament — starting from scratch this season after not playing for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Our team is going to show grit and determination, play as one unit and advance in the playoffs." Bretz said. "We are like a well oiled machine."

Bretz, who wears No. 7, enjoys traveling with the team and coaches.  She also appreciates the opportunity to meet girls with the same interests. 

She almost didn't go to college as she had been preparing to work for the Red Cross as a certified phlebotomist right out of high school.  Her best friend and teammate Mackenzie Langford was determined to go to school at Tri-C, so Bretz thought it would be a good opportunity to do something they both love to do.  The volleyball team is glad she did.

Bretz is one of the team's top front-line performers in kills with 3.22 kills per set. She also has 58 total attacks to go along with her 1.44 digs per set, among squad leaders in both categories.

"Jynx is a great leader. With her being self motivated she often spreads that to the team pushing them to be better as well." Head Coach Tionne El-Amin says. "She is very vocal and dedicated, working both on and off the court to improve her game."

Bretz plans on becoming a traveling nurse, but first she will look to help Tri-C do well in the tournament that will be held at St. Clair Community College, which is located in Port Huron, Michigan November 3-5.

Spitz, married and the father of two boys, lives in Lakewood.  Sports is his passion, and he's squeezing the sport reporting class into his busy schedule.  He's lived in Cleveland and been a sports fan siince he was five years old.