βI chose not to play this upcoming school season so I can focus on my academics and getting healthy before heading to Kentucky,β Reynolds said. βIt was something I talked through with the coaches at the end of last season. Last year was really special because everyone bought in and gave everything they had. Iβll definitely be following the team and supporting my girls any way that I can.β
What a final season it was.
In 2025, Reynolds recorded a team-high 465 kills while helping guide the Mustangs to a fifth straight district title. The fall culminated in a 39-9 finish and the program's inaugural UIL State Final Four appearance, with Reynolds earning District 16-6A Co-Attacker of the Year distinction alongside teammate Sade Bello.
Now, as she prepares for the next chapter, Reynolds will spend the remainder of the summer attending Kentucky Volleyball camp and the USA National Team Development Program (NTDP).
Her rise into one of the nation's more refined hitters wasn't necessarily the path many would have predicted.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE) β May 2025
Both of Reynolds' parents were athletes who met on the basketball court, and her father, Aldric Reynolds, serves as the head basketball coach at Aldine Westfield. Yet volleyball ultimately became the avenue where she channeled her competitive nature and discovered a new side of herself.
βI knew I didnβt want to play basketball, but something clicked with volleyball when I started around 13,β she said. βAt that age, I was naturally shy, and volleyball brought out the outgoing side of me that people see nowβsomeone who can step outside of her comfort zone, make new friends, and try things Iβve never done before.β
Even as she forged her own identity in a different sport, the lessons instilled by her parents never left.
βGrowing up, theyβve given me the freedom to choose what I wanted to pursue,β she said. βOnce I found volleyball, they instilled in me that thereβs always something you can improve on. If youβre pursuing something, go full force and donβt stop working for it. That mindset has helped me constantly train to become the best version of myself as an athlete. Volleyball is going to be there without me, so if I can be a good person beyond the sport, thatβs going to take me a long way.β
That perspective is reflected in the way Reynolds approaches her position.
βMaking an effort to overcommunicate is essential; thereβs never a time when you donβt need to say something,β she said. βAnother quality that separates great players from good ones is having a βgoldfish mentality.β As an outside hitter, youβll get a lot of different touchesβwhether itβs hitting, digging, or passingβthe ball always seems to find you. So, when I have a bad play, I let it go and move on.β
Farrah Sheeren (VYPE)
Furthermore, the maturity she carries has helped solidify her commitment to Kentucky.
βKentucky was my first call on June 15th of last year,β she said. βI know itβs clichΓ©, but when I stepped on campus, it felt like home. Thereβs so much support for the teams, the girls are competitive, and Coach Craig (Skinner)βI almost think of him like a dad because he makes you feel calm and in control. Itβs going to feel like family.β
As Reynolds prepares to graduate from Cypress Ranch, the legacy she hopes to leave has little to do with kills, rankings or recruiting attention.
βI hope they remember the joy that came with volleyball,β she said. βI try to be as enthusiastic as possible, support my teammates however I can, and be a shoulder for anyone who needs one. When people look up to me, I hope they donβt just see the Kentucky volleyball playerβI hope they see the girl who brings joy to the game.β
Reynolds alongside her teammates who helped author Cypress Ranchβs historic 2025-2026 campaign.Bradley C. Collier (VYPE) β May 2025
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE) β May 2025
Farrah Sheeren (VYPE)
Reynolds alongside her teammates who helped author Cypress Ranchβs historic 2025-2026 campaign.Bradley C. Collier (VYPE) β May 2025
