This fall, the South Alabama volleyball program will welcome six newcomers to the Jaguar roster. Leading up to the start of the 2016 season, USAJaguars.com will provide fans an opportunity to get to know the newest Jags a little bit better away from the court. The third newcomer in the series is Kellyn Reeves, who is the lone non-freshman in the incoming class.
Reeves, a 5-8 junior setter, signed with USA this spring after spending the last two seasons at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas were she earned second-team all-region honors as a sophomore. Reeves also averaged 11.98 assists per set – which led all of NJCAA, while helping Tyler (24-6, 8-0) advance to the NJCAA Region XIV tournament and finish the regular season ranked seventh in the final NJCAA poll. The Apaches climbed as high as first in the national poll in early September after winning eight of their first nine matches and the conference title was the fourth consecutive for Tyler. With Reeves directing the Apache offensive attack, Tyler ranked second nationally in assists per set (12.97), third in kills per set (13.70), 23rd in hitting percentage (.249), 24th in kills (1,575).
In this sit-down interview, Reeves talks about what area of her game she hopes to improve on this season, what teammates she looks up to and what one word she would use to describe the 2016 Jaguars, among other topics.
Q: What are your goals and expectations for the season?
A: My goals and expectations for this season are to come in and bring something new to the team. I want to help push us to be competing for a national title.
Q: What do you feel is a strength that you bring to the team and why?
A: I feel that I bring a new fresh set of ideas to the team. I am a junior college transfer, so I've played high level volleyball and I have experienced different things as a player. As a setter, I will bring leadership and I think that the combination of the skills I'm bringing and the existing skills we will be successful.
Q: What area do you feel you can improve on this season and why?
A: I want to focus on my defense this season, whether it's blocking (at the net) or defending the back court. I tend to put defense second, but it is just as important as setting.
Q: What do you feel is going to be the biggest thing for you and your teammates to do this season to be successful?
A: I think coming together as a team and really finding connections with each other. We have already started practicing and making the connections on the court; mainly with hitters. We have to be successful in the middle in order to win games. I believe we are on the right track to have that.
Q: Is there a teammate of yours who you look up to? What about them makes you feel that way?
A: I look up to lots of players on the team, but mainly Nikki (Gittens) and Symone (Stephenson). They are quiet and lead by example. They don't need to say a lot of words to know they are leaders.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a Jaguar?
A: To me it means success. Everything around me is successful and I can't wait to be a part of making this team successful.
Q: Who on the team do you feel will take on the biggest leadership role this season and why?
A: I think a team this size will have many big leaders.
Q: Describe South Alabama volleyball in a word:
A: Determined.
Q: Why did you choose to come to South Alabama?
A: I came to help this team get to the NCAA tournament and compete for a title.
Q: What are you majoring in at South Alabama and what do you plan to do after graduation?
A: I am majoring in communications and I would like to do some sort of media relations for a sports team.
Q: What is your favorite place on campus?
A: So far, the gym.
BEHIND THE NET WITH…
Lauren Hartman
Ashlyn Roberts
Kellyn Reeves
Kelley Hartman
Iva Djurdjanovic
Alahna Diaz
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
—USA—
