Photos by Samantha Davis: Marshall senior outside hitter Reese Drake jogs backwards, smiling, after hitting a kill in the Class 3A state championship on Nov. 8 at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. Drake has been named the Independent's 2025 volleyball Player of the Year. Below: Drake goes up for a kill in the Class 3A state championship on Nov. 8. Below (Photo by Jake McNeill): Drake goes in for a dig in the Class 3A state quarterfinals on Nov. 5.

MARSHALL — Capping off a notably impactful high school career with another state championship after fulfilling a consistently pivotal role on a top-ranked team on both sides of the ball, Marshall senior outside hitter Reese Drake has earned the nod of repeating as the 2025 Independent Volleyball Player of the Year. Drake helped lead the Tigers to its 10th state title last weekend, becoming the first program in Minnesota history to reach double-digit championships.

“It’s an amazing honor, and it means a lot,” Drake said. “There’s a lot of great Southwest Minnesota players around here, and I play with a lot of those girls in the offseason with JO [Junior Olympics] and club, so it’s cool.”

Drake graduates the Marshall volleyball program with a pair of state championships [2023, 2025] and another runner-up finish [2024] after first joining the varsity squad in 2023 her sophomore year.

“I think it’s super special, since a lot of teams don’t get that opportunity to compete in state championships,” Drake added. “Being able to do that twice is super special, and something that Marshall has worked hard to accomplish. It just feels very special.”

Drake’s impact on the floor was nothing short of extraordinary throughout her career, especially in making a point that Marshall had a need to avenge its 2024 state championship loss. Drake made the loss personal, as did the team, who set high standards that finishing this season with anything less than a title was not an option this time around.

“I feel like after losing that game last year, [I was] going in [to this season] with a little bit of anger, and mad that we lost. Just trying to make sure we didn’t make the same mistake this year, and finding ways to change, rather than staying the same as last year,” Reese said about her approach this season. “A lot of times, we always talk about, which has always stuck with me throughout my career, is they’re [opposing team] standing in the way of something that we want. So, just working as hard as we can, and knowing that we’ve practiced for this all year round, I feel like that was my biggest mindset going into that [championship game].”

Beyond turning things around from a year prior, the ending to the season and her high school career carried a deeper meaning for Drake in a few ways.

“I feel like going into the season, I definitely had a different perspective than previous years,” Drake said. “I feel like it was really important to most of us, and especially me, knowing that it’s the last year. I feel like also with wanting to give Mr. Westby [head coach Dan Westby] his 10th title before I left, and just wanting to leave with no regrets.”

And, bringing home Westby’s 10th title is exactly what the volleyball team did, completing Drake’s senior year goals.

“I love Mr. Westby. I have loved every second I have gotten with him as my coach,” Drake said. “If I’m being honest, I probably would not be half the player I am without the Marshall Tiger program, him and the coaching staff.”

Drake finished the 2025 regular season leading Marshall with 351 kills and 46 service aces, along with her 257 digs and 15 ace blocks. She also reached her 1,000th career kill and dig this year, and was named to the Class 3A All-Tournament team and the All-State Team by the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association [MNVBCA]. Drake also made both teams last year as a junior.

Drake finished with a double-double between kills and digs in each match of the state tournament.

Along with Drake’s lengthy list of accolades was being named a Ms. Baden finalist this year — A prestigious award that goes to Minnesota’s top senior volleyball player annually. Drake was named a finalist among four other players throughout the state.

Last July, Drake was also named the MNVBCA’s MVP in the All-Star series that hosted four teams of 12 players throughout Minnesota.

“I feel like as a sophomore, I had the senior class teaching me how everything worked, bringing me in and teaching me a lot of the skills that I know now,” Drake said regarding how her role has changed. “Now being a senior, it’s knowing that a lot of the younger girls look up to you, and just being a role model, trying to make sure I do everything right, knowing that they’re looking up to me and watching me.”

Beyond the awards, Drake continued to credit her teammates and coaches who have been next to her over the years.

“We have played together since fourth grade. Just coming together one last time [this season], and ending with the championship, it felt really nice,” Drake said. “We’ve done all of it together.”

“I would just like to recognize our coaching staff for all they’ve done for us, making sure we’re prepared for every game. They take a lot of time out of their day to scout for us to make sure we are prepared for whatever the other team may throw at us,” Drake added. “Even the B-Squad for always coming to practice, and working their hardest to try and make us better as well.”

Drake’s first introduction to volleyball was around 9-years-old in her front yard, and the passion for the game only grew stronger.

“Honestly, I started playing in like fourth grade, and a lot of times, I would just be peppering in the driveway with my older sister [Kennedy Drake] and my neighbors, just trying to keep up with them all the time,” Drake said, laughing. “So really, just playing around the house, peppering and all those things [got me into volleyball], and [going to] SMSU camps.”

As Drake grew her time on the court, she continued to find ways to elevate her game and became a key player for the multi-talented Marshall volleyball program.

“I go into each practice looking for a way to get better, and having teammates that also push you to get better helps a lot … Some people dread practices, but a lot of times, we would all just go in there finding ways to make each other better,” Drake said. “I feel like a lot of times, if we were in tough situations, I just went back to the fundamentals, and knowing I’ve practiced this a million times. I’m also just being a hype woman for everyone else around me, too.”

At the front of the net, Drake has been classified as an undersized hitter at 5-foot-7, but the confidence and determination she instilled in the role developed her into a commanding presence, where she became a crucial asset for the team.

“I feel like one of the big parts of my game is using different shots. Not always trying to get the aggressive kill, but just throwing in some other shots to keep the other defensive team on their toes,” Drake said.

Following the championship match after the team crashed to the court together, Drake and senior setter and middle blocker Avery Fahl were among the first two individuals to find one another in the crowd to share a hug, marking the end of what was a combined largely-successful high school career for the duo.

“Me and Avery have been super close, especially going into high school,” Drake said. “I mean, we played in club season together, and I played with her all through high school as well. I feel like we’ve done a lot, and gone through a lot together.”

Yet, Drake and Fahl will continue to share the court together for another four years as the two will transition to Mustangs, committing to play volleyball across the street at Southwest Minnesota State University.

“There was a time where I thought I was going to want to play college basketball, and then my sophomore year was kind of when I had a switch and had more of a love for volleyball,” Drake said. “So, since my sophomore year, I’ve always wanted to play college volleyball.”

Playing for SMSU will also reunite Drake with her sister, Kennedy, who is currently a sophomore defensive specialist and a 2023 graduate of Marshall. The two played together for the Tigers Reese’s sophomore season and Kennedy’s senior year, winning the 2023 title together.

“Sophomore year was super special being able to do all that with her and playing with her. It’ll be super special to get back on the court with her,” Drake said.

Drake and Fahl will also get back with 2022 Marshall graduate Leah Jones, a current junior outside hitter for SMSU.

“I am super excited. Like Mr. Westby always says, even when I was a freshman too, steel sharpens steel,” Drake said. “Getting the chance to play against Leah Jones and her senior class I felt like really helped elevate my game, playing against good players when I was younger, and knowing I had to step up. I think it’ll be super fun getting back with her, since I haven’t played with her in a while.”

Drake will immediately transition into the basketball season for one more go-around after being named the Independent’s 2024 Girl’s Basketball Player of the Year last season. She led Marshall with team-highs of 19 points, 4.6 assists, six rebounds and 3.5 steals, and also reached 1,000 career points last February. The Tigers are looking to return back to the state championship for a second straight year, under the leadership of Westby.

Throughout the trophies, medals and honors Drake has collected from volleyball, it’s the relationships the sport has brought her she’s most grateful for.

“Honestly, I would probably say my teammates, because most of the volleyball girls are my best friends,” Drake said regarding what the game has given her. “Volleyball really just gave me my best friends.”