Profile on TWHS volleyball player, Rachel Reed

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Here at Woodlands Online sports, we like to profile as many young student athletes as possible from the many schools in the large area we cover. We like to spread it around and involve as many schools as possible. However, it is no coincidence that the Woodlands High School volleyball team has seen their share of profiles. Why? Well, because over the last two years you could count on two hands how many matches the whole program has lost and that includes the feeder program at McCullough Junior High.
As readers, we like winners. We are infatuated with being successful in life so we surround ourselves with winners. We like to see what makes these successful athletes tick. There have been several excellent middle blockers to grace "The House That Madison Built", but if you go by the old term "What have you done for me lately?", then two time state champion, Rachel Reed is the best MB the Lady Highlanders have ever had.
See what makes Rachel tick in this week's Woodlands Online profile..

How long have you been playing volleyball?
Six years.

How did you become interested in volleyball?
I've always been interested in sports and it was one I hadn't tried. Once I started playing, a lot of coaches told me to keep playing, so I did. Katy Messing and Stacy DiFrancesco inspired me and I wanted to be just like them!

What was it about USC that made you choose the Trojans over other colleges?
I knew I wanted to play in SoCal for sure. USC is a beautiful school and historically great in volleyball. I love the coaches and fell in love when I visited. Also, USC has been my number 1 choice since 5th grade even before volleyball entered the picture. I was really interested in Oregon and SDSU, too.

What will your major be?
Possibly journalism.

What do you hope to be doing after you graduate from college?
I would love to play professionally overseas. Then, something to do with photo-journalism.

Do you like TWHS?
I love TWHS. We won a state championship two years in a row. I will always love this place. Very academic, yet athletic. I also love the courtyard, haha me and my friends hang out there in between classes.

Describe the volleyball team and why you enjoyed playing for the Lady Highlanders?
I've always played with amazing athletes at TWHS. This year wasn't the most talented group I've played with, but they were definitely the funnest and my favorite. I will love this team forever. We were so close and made many memories. It sucks that we were all together for only one year. The coaches are amazing. TWHS will always be good in volleyball because they will always have talent in each class. Coach Madison knows how to handle all the talent really well. She coached the two state championship teams I was on differently. She knows what makes girls their best which is awesome. After I finished my last season with TWHS, I truly realized what a great coach she is. A lot of high school coaches are lazy and go through the motions which is the total opposite of Coach Madison. She even scrimmages with us, and often beats us!

What do you enjoy doing away from school and volleyball?
Anything outdoor- kayaking, running, biking, swimming, etc... I also love to paint and of course hang out with my best friends who all play volleyball.

Who is your role model for volleyball?
Katy Messing. She's kind of always been my role model. We play the same position and she was successful in college.

Describe how supportive your family is in everything you do in your life.
Very supportive. They constantly give me advice about college athletics and what to expect because they've been there. To be honest, Bruce (younger brother) isn't super supportive but he's brutally honest which is very entertaining.

Three things that people don't know about you.
I love college basketball (probably more than volleyball honestly). I don't know how to whistle or blow a bubble and my favorite movie is 50 First Dates.

Coach Leslie Madison always gives an honest picture of her players in her summations.

"Rachel is a great kid. She is silly and quirky and is always laughing", said Madison. "She is extremely athletic especially for her size. Rachel does an outstanding job blocking the ball and I've really enjoyed coaching her and look forward to her success at the next level."

There is no doubt that Rachel's success here will extend to Southern Cal. Beyond college, whether she is playing pro volleyball, being a journalist or whatever, expect the same thing because winners do one thing and they do it a lot...Succeed!

Just know that with her love of the sun and beautiful weather, she won't be mimicking her favorite movie by ending up in Alaska.