WPIAL Alum Q&A – Kelly Reynolds
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Monday, October 31, 2016 | 3:32 PM
While the Upper St. Clair girls volleyball team was capturing a playoff victory last week, a former Panther continued her historic run at Juniata College. Kelly Reynolds, previously a stalwart for USC and now for the Eagles, is this week’s featured athlete for the WPIAL Alum Q&A.
Reynolds’ resume at Upper St. Clair includes three years as a starter for the Panthers. In all three of those campaigns, she also earned First-Team All-Section honors, while she was a Second-Team All-WPIAL performer as a junior and senior.
As a sophomore in 2010, Reynolds helped guide the Panthers to a co-section crown and the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals. The following campaign, USC captured the section outright, but was bounced in the quarterfinals of the postseason. The outcome was the same in Reynolds’ senior season in 2012, as the Panthers season concluded in the quarterfinals.
Following her high-school career, Reynolds joined Juniata as a setter. She not only played as a freshman, but Reynolds made a major impact, contributing 978 assists and 185 digs. While the team went 31-5 that season, Reynolds’ numerous awards included freshman of the year, rookie of the year, and all-region and all-conference recognition.
She was even better as a sophomore, increasing her stats to 1,173 assists and 293 digs. Reynolds was named first-team all-region and all-conference, as well as an honorable mention for all-American, as the Eagles finished 28-8.
Last season, Reynolds earned her spot as a AVCA First-Team All-American, as well as Landmark Player of the Year. Her assist total continued to climb, as she accumulated 1,229 in 2015. Moreover, the Eagles lost just three times in 36 matches.
Now a senior, Reynolds has continued her ascension into the record books. She ranks among the best in school history in assists, and will keep adding to her prolific numbers as the season progresses.
Kelly took time from her schedule to discuss her role in Juniata’s record books, how her high-school coach still influences her today, and what her nastiest injury was on the court.
Q: You have earned numerous honors and distinctions in your first three seasons, with likely more on the way this year. What has been the biggest factor in your success?
A: I think practicing with the girls in the gym everyday has been a huge factor to not only my success, but the success of our entire team. Our gym is very competitive, so we are always pushing each other to get better each day in practice, and when you compete hard in practice everyday, it translates over to game time.
Q: How have you grown as a player from the start of your freshman campaign until now?
A: It’s crazy to think about where I was as a player when I came in as a freshman and where I am now. I have learned so much from my all the extremely talented girls I have played with over the past four years. Equally important, I am very fortunate to have been coached by Heather Pavlik, who was also a former setter at Juniata. I am definitely happy with how much I’ve developed, but I am always striving to be even better and learn even more.
Q: You continue to climb the school’s all-time rankings in several categories, including assists. What does it mean to rank among the leaders in Juniata history?
A: It’s honestly such an honor, but of course I couldn’t have done this without my teammates. All the women that have come through Juniata’s program have not only been amazing players, but amazing women. I can only hope that I make our alums proud!
Q: The team has been very successful during your career. What are the goals for the Eagles in 2016?
A: Of course our No. 1 goal is to win a national championship, but we look at each day as its own opportunity to get better than we were the day before.
Q: What was been the most exciting game environment in which you’ve played in college?
A: We have hosted regionals twice during my time at Juniata, and playing in those matches at home have been so fun. It’s a really exciting and energetic environment when all the stands are packed in you’re competing in your home gym.
Q: What factors led to your decision to attend Juniata?
A: I really loved the community-centered environment that Juniata creates. I feel so connected to my professors, fellow students, teammates, and coaches, and that was definitely something I was looking for when I chose a school. Also Juniata has been a national competitor for years, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of that.
Q: What is your major, and preferred future profession?
A: I’m studying management and economics with a minor in Spanish. I’m exploring a range of opportunities from coaching to grad school to going straight into the business world.
Q: What was your fondest memory from Upper St. Clair?
A: I have so many great memories from my time at Upper St. Clair from clubs to my teachers to volleyball, but I think my fondest memory is going on the Kids Helping Kids trip to the Dominican Republic my junior and senior years. Those trips made a huge impact on my life.
Q: Yoko Nagao was a very accomplished coach at USC. How did she benefit your career on the court?
A: Yoko not only helped me grow as a player on the court, she helped me grow and develop as a person off of the court. I truly believe that any athlete that gets to play for Yoko is really lucky. I have so much respect for her. She helped strengthen my volleyball IQ, my mental toughness, and refine my skills. I’m still really close with her. She still comes to my games and supports me at Juniata even though I am no longer one of her players, as she does with many of her other former athletes.
Q: Do you still follow WPIAL volleyball or any other sports?
A: I try to catch updates here and there. I’m glad to see that USC Volleyball is having great season!
Q: What is the worst injury you’ve sustained from the sport?
A: I’ve actually been really lucky when it comes to injuries (knock on wood)! The worst one I’ve ever had was more of the grossest, and it was during my sophomore year at Juniata. I went up to block a ball and my finger dislocated. I think I was just freaked out by how it looked rather than the pain.
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: Gilmore Girls
Q: Do you prefer water or a sports drink when you compete?
A: Water!
Q: If you are headed to a deserted island and can only bring three things, what would you pick?
A: My music, a volleyball and Sudoku.
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