FORT COLLINS — Marlee Reynolds knows she will look back and smile.
Her five-year journey as a Colorado State volleyball player hasn’t always been easy — as she said, full of soreness, tears and a bit of blood spilled. It’s the final chapter that’s making it easier.
She’s in a good place, riding a hot streak and her team just reached the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s pretty awesome. It gives me good closure,” she said. “I kinda just went into the NCAA Tournament just thinking I just didn’t want to have any regrets. Like, ‘dang it, if I would have just hit that one ball better, played that set better’ … I’m just playing with no regrets and it’s been nice and awesome. I’m playing my best volleyball right now, and I wouldn’t want to end my career any other way.”
There has been a shoulder to deal with every since she left Dalhart High School in Texas, a constant, irritating companion for an outside hitter. She’s also had to battle with her own mind, especially in terms of confidence. Those ghosts are now in the past.
She’s posted double-digit kills in 12 of the past 14 matches for the Rams (she had nine in the two outliers), including a team-best 18 in the five-set win over Colorado on Saturday at Moby Arena in the sub-regional final. The performance came on 27 swings with just two errors as she hit .364. In the two NCAA wins, she has posted 30 kills.
Coach Tom Hilbert said physical skill was never at issue, it was the player realizing she possessed it at times.
Times that are now in the past.
“Her own confidence, believe it or not. She doesn’t shy away from difficult situations any more,” Hilbert said. “She used to, I think, think there were players better than her that could outplay her, and that would worry her a little bit. I don’t think she thinks that any more.
“She uses the tools she has, and since the beginning, her gift is a very high contact point. She knows how to attack the ball high. There are players that touch 10-foot-4 inches that don’t hit the ball high like she does. Her velocity has gotten better and better, and you put those two together, and it’s pretty effective.”
She spent her first three seasons behind talented players, but Hilbert noted she also worked hard to improve herself. She was put in the important O1 spot last year, finishing with 333 kills (3.06 per set). She’s averaged 3.15 kills per set this season (350 total), leading to her all-Mountain West selection.
“Marlee’s been playing awesome all year, and she is consistent,” setter Deedra Foss said. “She’s one of those players that you can rely on. If you want to finish the game, I look at Marlee and I’m like, ‘I know you can do this.’ It’s awesome to have her on this team.
“I’m really happy for Mar. She’s overcome a lot. It’s our last year together, and we’re having fun out there. We’re going to the Sweet 16, and you couldn’t ask for anything better. She’s having fun. She’s like, ‘I’m going all out. It’s my last year and I’m giving it everything I have,’ and it’s really showing.”
Reynolds is not only lifted by her new personal motto, it’s what she was telling her teammates in practice on Monday as the Rams started preparation for this weekend’s regional and Friday’s match against second-seeded Texas.
For her, this is a good place to be in, and no better time to experience the feeling.
“It’s comforting, but I’m not overconfident,” she said. “I am confident in the abilities that I have, and it is a little comforting going into the NCAA Tournament knowing, alright, I can play at a high level, I can play with these girls, I can get kills and hit over the block. I think it does kind of give me a little bit of a chip on my shoulder having that confidence.”
Mike Brohard: 970-635-3633, mbrohard@reporter-herald.com and twitter.com/mbrohard
