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Brighton, N.Y. —
Brighton senior Etan Bennett has all the tools to be an outstanding college volleyball player.
He is tall (6-foot-5) and has an outstanding swing at outside hitter. Bennett also has experience playing the middle where he crafted his strong defensive skills.
After watching him play though, you quickly realize Bennett’s talents don’t end on the court. His leadership skills can help any team on and off the court.
Bennett is looking to end his career on a high note and lead the Barons to their first winning season in three years. While putting the finishing touches on his outstanding high school career, Bennett is trying to figure out where to play in college.
Away from volleyball Bennett competes on the track and field team in the pole vault and high jump.
“He is one of those players always looking to improve,” said Brad Rosenbaum, Brighton head coach. “I think the last couple of years he has tried to do more than get by on his talent. He is trying to improve his leadership skills.”
Bennett started his career in the middle but the Barons stable of tall players sent him to the outside. All of Brighton’s starters are over six-feet tall.
He comes into his senior season with plenty of momentum after an outstanding junior year.
Bennett dominated matches last year recording 22 kills in victories over Canandaigua and Eastridge. Bennett has an outstanding serve as evidenced by nine straight aces during a victory against Gates Chili last fall.
“I’m looking to improve my passing and my overall court play,” Bennett said about this year. “I would like to be a leader on the team and help this team win a lot of games.”
Bennett began his volleyball career playing with the modified team in the seventh grade. Word quickly spread about his raw talent and within two years he was receiving an invitation from Rosenbaum to practice with the varsity team.
According to Rosenbaum, Bennett relied on his talent too much during his first few workouts with the varsity. Quickly though Bennett leaned on his teammates and coaches for advice on how to improve.
“The first year I played the seniors were really into it but the last two years we didn’t have as many seniors,” Bennett said. “This year we have another good amount of seniors so everything should work out. We know how to play together.”
Brighton senior Etan Bennett has all the tools to be an outstanding college volleyball player.
He is tall (6-foot-5) and has an outstanding swing at outside hitter. Bennett also has experience playing the middle where he crafted his strong defensive skills.
After watching him play though, you quickly realize Bennett’s talents don’t end on the court. His leadership skills can help any team on and off the court.
Bennett is looking to end his career on a high note and lead the Barons to their first winning season in three years. While putting the finishing touches on his outstanding high school career, Bennett is trying to figure out where to play in college.
Away from volleyball Bennett competes on the track and field team in the pole vault and high jump.
“He is one of those players always looking to improve,” said Brad Rosenbaum, Brighton head coach. “I think the last couple of years he has tried to do more than get by on his talent. He is trying to improve his leadership skills.”
Bennett started his career in the middle but the Barons stable of tall players sent him to the outside. All of Brighton’s starters are over six-feet tall.
He comes into his senior season with plenty of momentum after an outstanding junior year.
Bennett dominated matches last year recording 22 kills in victories over Canandaigua and Eastridge. Bennett has an outstanding serve as evidenced by nine straight aces during a victory against Gates Chili last fall.
“I’m looking to improve my passing and my overall court play,” Bennett said about this year. “I would like to be a leader on the team and help this team win a lot of games.”
Bennett began his volleyball career playing with the modified team in the seventh grade. Word quickly spread about his raw talent and within two years he was receiving an invitation from Rosenbaum to practice with the varsity team.
According to Rosenbaum, Bennett relied on his talent too much during his first few workouts with the varsity. Quickly though Bennett leaned on his teammates and coaches for advice on how to improve.
“The first year I played the seniors were really into it but the last two years we didn’t have as many seniors,” Bennett said. “This year we have another good amount of seniors so everything should work out. We know how to play together.”
Bennett’s improvement was so quick he was with the varsity team full-time by the middle of his freshman year. Bennett’s confidence and enthusiasm for volleyball began to grow and pretty soon he was looking for more opportunities to play.
Bennett joined up with Pace Bootlegger, one of the top club teams in Rochester. He spends the offseason playing all over the country with some of the best players in Section 5 including Rush-Henrietta standouts Greg Bischoping and Austin Sanderl.
“I think he has gone about it the right way,” said Rob Newton, who coached Bennett on two Pace teams and is currently the head coach of the Irondequoit boys team.
“He realizes that playing on the outside is just another possibility for him. He just wants to increase his chances of playing at the next level.”
Bennett is working just as hard off the court to improve his stock with college coaches. His skills video can be found on www.youtube.com.
Bennett isn’t limiting his search to schools in the Northeast. He is willing to follow the same path of former Brighton standout Jon Hackett (USC) and Victor graduate Rob Page (UCLA) and play on the West Coast.
“I think that playing out West would be a lot of fun,” Bennett said. “I think if I can find the right school that would want me on their team that would be the ideal situation.”
