A competitive spirit: Titans' Reagan Rus named 2024 Mitchell Republic volleyball player of the year

MOUNT VERNON, S.D.

Reagan Rus is always ready to compete.

Those whove known Rus since she was a little kid gracing the halls of Mount Vernon Public School saw the potential competitor she would become as a muti-sport standout for Mount Vernon/Plankinton's sports teams.

ADVERTISEMENT Numerous school records, all-state recognition and state championships.

All the accolades came from a simple lesson at an early age.

My mom has always taught us to try and do our best, said Rus, now in her senior year at Mount Vernon.

Although we can put in the most effort and whatever we do to get in that extra practice, we do it so we can excel.

My mom pushed me to be the best I can be for our team.

As the cliche, Mother knows best, holds true here, Rus has been at the top of her game.

Shes been a state champion in track and field in the 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter relay, holding the school record in the latter.

In basketball, Rus was an all-state player last season for the first time and committed to Division II Northern State University to play college hoops in August.

However, Rus volleyball play this season went to the next level, setting the Titans single-season team record with 510 kills.

She also added 356 digs, 42 aces, 18 assists and 12 blocks.

Averaging over 14 kills and 10 digs in 35 matches played, Rus powered the Titans back to the Class A state tournament for the first time since 2015.

Rus also added her first all-state first-team selection in volleyball for the seventh-place finishing Titans, recording double-doubles in all three tournament games, totalling 55 kills and 52 digs.

She was named to the all-Southeastern South Dakota Conference team and wrapped her five-year varsity career as the Titans all-time leader in kills (1,477) and digs (1,130).

For displaying a high level of consistency as one of the top attackers in the region and being an integral part of MVPs return to the Class A state tournament, Reagan Rus was selected as the 2024 Mitchell Republic volleyball player of the year.

ADVERTISEMENT Since 2001, the Mitchell Republic volleyball player of the year has been selected by the newspapers sports staff, and conducted via a point-based voting system, awarding five points to the top player, four points to the second player and so on.

Rus tallied 19 total points with three first-place votes, joining 2014 and 2015 player of the year Makaela Karst as honorees to have donned the Titans colors.

Other players garnering consideration were Burkes Kailee Frank, who received the remaining first-place vote, Emmie Hausmann and Paige Bull, Winner teammates Keelie Kuil and Gracie Root, and Hansons Ava Doyle.

Rus first exposure to volleyball came during instructional camps hosted mainly at Dakota Wesleyan University, quickly picking up on the basics of the sport.

By her sixth-grade year, volleyball became her fall activity.

But the jump from middle school volleyball to high school presented Rus with a new challenge and new teammates.

Nervous about integrating herself with the varsity roster at the beginning of the season, she attributes the feeling to not having much confidence in herself at the time.

However, former teammate Maria Baker, who Rus credits as her influence for her own volleyball game, reached out to the then-eighth grader and helped Rus make the leap forward.

She was always really there for me if I needed to talk to someone and if I really needed support, Rus said.

It was a big change for me and she helped bridge that gap.

...

She was (MVPs) go-to attacker at the time, and I just always wanted to be that go-to person.

ADVERTISEMENT Rus also credits Titans head coach Darcy Deinert for taking a chance on bringing her up to the varsity volleyball team when she did.

However, Deinert was one of those that felt Rus had the potential to be a great player given her competitive spirit.

She has the determination and likes to be challenged, Deinert said.

I knew she was physically and mentally capable of getting to a higher level because of her tenacity and her fire and will to compete at a level that challenged her.

Beginning to see valuable time on the floor at varsity as a freshman, Rus played exclusively in the front row, often getting rotated out depending on the point in a match.

Always having the mindset of wanting to attack, the substitutions served as motivation to work on other skills valuable to a player.

Rus focus immediately went to her passing and setting of the volleyball, always getting extra reps to time up her contact of the ball and putting the ball in position for teammates to make a play.

Her defense also showed improvement, due to her willingness to get to the ball where others might look to someone else.

As a defender, you just want them to go get (the ball), Deinert said, And that was easy for her.

She had to analyze what angle its coming from and to learn that this balls going over here or if a girl is taller than our blocker, and it came quite quickly.

I hated coming out of the game, Rus added.

I just wanted to be in there all the time so I can influence the game in whatever way possible.

I worked as hard as I could when we had practice and got as many reps as I could so I didnt have to come out.

ADVERTISEMENT Regardless of whether shes collecting kills, draining triples or leaping over hurdles, Rus will always be found with a smile on her face.

Even as the Titans grew together on the court or in the weight room, Rus was counted on with the other seniors on the roster to keep the atmosphere light and enjoyable, while also setting the example for the mostly young roster.

One aspect of Rus personality is undeniable: her passion for sports.

She loves the game, whether it's volleyball, basketball or track, MVP girls basketball head coach Preston Kristensen said.

She embraces every moment, and as she's gotten older, she's taken over that leadership role and understands that she's setting the tone and the girls feed off her.

We talked about body language all the time and she's rocking a smile out there while still competing at a high level, he added.

That's going to relax the rest of the teammates, you know, let them settle in.

Knowing about the added responsibilities of becoming the mentor she once looked up to as an eighth grader, Rus set a goal of being more positive on herself at the beginning of the volleyball season, knowing patience was going to be key as the team built chemistry on the floor.

She noticed early on following the Titans Oct.

3 victory against Winner how it can guide a team towards their goals.

We were just really positive, Rus said.

We all just wanted to win and that was our main goal for all of us together this year.

From there, the group began to rewrite their potential goals for the year, and Rus shifted her focus to developing a repertoire of attack shots, mainly to hit positions where holes might be created.

By the time MVP faced conference foe and Class B third-place finisher Burke on Oct.

26 for the SESD tournament title, the adjustments on the floor were realized.

ADVERTISEMENT The Titans came back from an ugly first set to beat the Cougars for the championship, cementing their status as a team poised to make a run towards the state tournament.

The remaining matches brought a renewed focus along with a new demeanor from everyone.

We were bringing a lot of energy, Rus said.

Those games were very loud for us and we were very positive, which helped our team chemistry.

They were high-stakes games, so we just tried to minimize errors as much as we could and find those open spots.

Reagan had a lot to do with that environment, Deinert added.

When everybody feels like theyre fighting for something similar, I think the group just goes together and she had a big part in leading that.

...

Just the willingness of the group to give to something bigger was pretty cool.

Rus will return to the hardwood for MVP girls basketball this year following a career season in 2023, where she averaged 16.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, earning a spot on the Class A all-state third team.

Rus enters 2024 only needing 17 more points to top 1,000 for her career.

Following the spring track and field season, Rus will be off to Northern State to join the womens basketball team, chasing a dream of hers from when she first picked up a basketball and through the countless pickup games against former teammate and current South Dakota State player Emilee Fox and her older brother Reed, who plays football for the University of South Dakota Ive been playing basketball for the last few years in the summer just trying to get my name out there, Rus said.

I just knew I wanted to play basketball and college as it was always a dream of mine just to play in college.

ADVERTISEMENT As for high school, this volleyball season will forever be one of Rus lasting memories, and will miss going for those kills to clinch matches while rooting on her teammates along the way.

Her impact beyond the walls of Mount Vernon competing for the Titans hasnt gone unnoticed by those shes been around and had the opportunity to compete under.

I hope she understands that all the hard work she put in for herself and all the work she did off the court to help build our programs is very appreciated, Kristensen said.

The coaches couldn't thank her more for all her hard work and dedication.

I hope shes able to go into her next chapter in life and be able to say, All right, Im ready, Deinert added, Im ready for this and Im prepared.

I hope she leaves prepared and knows that she and any player can believe in themselves and know they can do great things.

Heres a look at the other players who received consideration, with their point totals in parentheses: Kailee Frank, Burke (14): A senior outside and middle hitter, Frank showcased her proficiency on both ends of the court, netting 375 kills and 337 digs, ranking second on the Cougars in those categories.

She was also named to the Class B all-state first team for the second time, previously named to the first team in 2023 and as an honorable mention in 2022.

Emmie Hausmann, Burke (9): A junior outside and middle hitter, Hausmann paced the Cougars with 378 kills and 90 service aces.

She was named to three all-conference volleyball teams and helped Burke to a 35-4 record and a third-place finish at the Class B state tournament for the second consecutive season.

Keelie Kuil, Winner (6): A senior outside hitter, Kuil helped lead Winner back to the Class A state tournament for the first time since 2019.

Earning a Class A honorable mention, Kuil led the Warriors with 335 kills and finished among the teams leaders with 321 digs and 39 aces.

Gracie Root, Winner (5): A junior setter, Root finished with 848 assists for the season and was second on the team with 338 digs and third with 32 aces.

The Warriors finished the season at 26-9 and came in eighth place in the Class A state tournament.

Ava Doyle, Hanson (4): A sophomore setter and outside hitter, Doyle helped the Beavers to a 21-7 record and a Class A SoDak 16 appearance.

She finished the regular season with 274 kills, 213 digs, and 56 service aces to her line, earning all-Cornbelt Conference recognition.

Paige Bull, Burke (3): A senior middle hitter, Bulls presence at the net garnered a Class B all-state honorable mention, finishing with 123 total blocks.

Adding 309 kills and 15 aces for the third-place finisher Cougars, Bull concluded her prep volleyball career having accumulated 437 total blocks, including 200 solo blocks.

Previous award winners: 2001: Marcy Jacobsen, Mitchell; 2002 (winter): Chelaine Knudsen, Andes Central; 2002 (fall): Chelsey Miller, Mitchell; (*Note: 2002 season switch) 2003: Katrina Brooks, Andes Central; 2004: Gina Baldwin, Mitchell; 2005: Kelli Fiegen, Parkston; 2006: Jena Doom, Wagner; 2007: Kelli Fiegen, Parkston; 2008: Keaya Weber, Wagner; 2009: Jilanne Doom, Wagner; 2010: Charlee Nelson, Mitchell; 2011: Dana Misiaszek, Mitchell; 2012: Taylin Alm, Mitchell; 2013: Anna Flitner, Lyman; 2014: Makaela Karst, Mount Vernon/Plankinton; 2015: Makaela Karst, Mount Vernon/Plankinton; 2016: Sierra Mesman, Bon Homme; 2017: Mackenzie Miller, Mitchell; 2018: Chelsea Brewster, Mitchell; 2019: Taylee Indahl, Burke; 2020: Julia Weber, Bridgewater-Emery; 2021: Karly VanDerWerff, Platte-Geddes; 2022: Adisyn Indahl, Burke; 2023: Karly VanDerWerff, Platte-Geddes; 2024: Reagan Rus, Mount Vernon/Plankinton.

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