SMSU VOLLEYBALL: Reiss ready for junior campaign after successful sophomore season

Independent file photo SMSU’s Taylor Reiss follows through on a kill during their Sept. 16 match against Augustana University.
MARSHALL – Taylor Reiss enjoyed a stellar sophomore season this past fall for the Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball team. She racked up the accolades and was named NSIC Player of the Year. She also earned first team All-NSIC and NSIC All-Academic honors.
Reiss can now add another honor to the list, as the former Minneota Viking was recently named SMSU’s Female Athlete of the Year.
“It’s a cool accomplishment,” Reiss said. “I feel like I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my teammates and coaches. I wouldn’t be the athlete or player that I am without them.”
Reiss recorded 577 kills and finished third in the NCAA in kills per set (4.89). She recorded double-digit kills in every single match. She set a school record for kills in four sets with 35 against Lewis University (Ill.). She also recorded 347 digs and 62 blocks. She was a key cog for a team that finished the season 28-6 and a share of the conference title.
Reiss said one of the best moments from the past season was hearing the news that SMSU earned a share of the NSIC conference title.
“I’d say the fondest memory is when we found out that we won the share of the conference title,” Reiss said. “I think that was a pretty cool moment.”
An outstanding high school athlete for the Vikings, Reiss could have easily been playing basketball at the collegiate level. Instead she chose volleyball due to all of the time and dedication she put into the sport growing up.
“I love both volleyball and basketball,” Reiss said. “I had just put so much time into volleyball, with JO tournaments throughout my high school career. I just felt like I put that much time and money into volleyball and to get better at volleyball that I needed to pursue volleyball at the collegiate level.”
What does an athlete do after accomplishing so much in just her sophomore season? Reiss said she’s focused on improving her defense and passing this offseason.
“I’m focused on defense and passing,” Reiss said. “My freshman year I came in and played middle. Last season I moved to the outside. That was a big transition for me going from the middle to the outside. On the outside I had to play a lot more defense than I did in the middle. That was a big transition for me and something I’m focused on this offseason.”
For her career, Reiss has 877 kills. Another season with 500-plus kills will put her in the program’s Top 10 for career kills.
As she prepares for her junior season, Reiss and her teammates are looking to build off last year’s successful season.
“I think our team goal has always been to give it our best shot,” Reiss said. “I think this year one of our goals will be to win the regional championship and making it to nationals.”