06/12/2026
Senior Spotlight: Rylee!
Rylee has been a part of Crushers since she was just 8 years old—the youngest player to ever join our program. From day one, she brought an incredible passion for volleyball and a determination to improve not only as a player, but as a leader.
I have had the privilege of coaching Rylee for every club season except one, and over those years I have watched her grow into an exceptional athlete and an even more remarkable young woman.
Throughout her volleyball career, Rylee has played nearly every position on the court—everything except libero. Early on, she primarily played setter and right-side hitter and truly enjoyed both roles. Then, during her 14U season, one of her coaches (and for once, it wasn't me!) decided it was time for a change and moved her to outside hitter. Rylee was not thrilled about the switch at first and needed some time to warm up to the idea. Little did she know, it would become one of the best changes of her volleyball career.
As an outside hitter, Rylee flourished. She developed into one of the strongest outside hitters I have coached in all my years on the sidelines. Her court awareness is exceptional, often surpassing players much older than her, and her ability to attack the line is simply incredible.
One of my favorite things to watch was the connection between Caitlin and Rylee. Whenever Caitlin sent up one of those high outside sets, I knew exactly what was coming next—that ball was going to hit the floor hard on the other side of the net. In fact, those sets became so iconic that Rylee still calls them "Rylee sets" to this day.
While Rylee's talent on the court is impressive, what truly defines her is her resilience.
Her volleyball journey has not been easy. She has endured multiple dislocations of her hitting shoulder, injuries that sidelined her for two full club seasons and portions of her school seasons as well. For many athletes, those setbacks might have been enough to walk away from the game. Not for Rylee.
No matter the obstacle, she remained committed to her team—showing up to practices, attending games, and supporting her teammates however she could. In true Rylee fashion, she even trained with her left arm so she could continue serving and hitting, saying, "I will not let this darn shoulder stop me from playing."
Her determination, work ethic, resilience, and refusal to give up carried her through every challenge. Despite multiple setbacks, surgery to repair torn ligaments, and the long road of recovery, she never lost sight of her goals.
Today, that perseverance has earned her the opportunity to continue her volleyball career at Pacific University.
Words cannot express how proud I am of you, Rylee. It has been an honor to be your coach throughout the years, and it will be an even greater honor to be one of your biggest fans as you begin this next chapter.
Congratulations, Rylee. Your Crushers family is cheering you on every step of the way, and we cannot wait to see all that you accomplish.
