She may not be that tall, but the County Volleyball Player of the Year packs a punch

Lauren Reeves tested the boundaries of her vocal chords during a volleyball playoff match this fall against Schurr.

After winning the first two sets, Reeves’ Templeton High School team lost the next two, setting up the decisive fifth. Just like the Eagles had done all season, they got the ball to Reeves, a dynamic player with few holes in her game — and she delivered.

Templeton won the fifth set and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division 6 playoffs, winning its 20th match in a row.

“That was the most intense game I have ever played,” said the junior. “I think that’s the most I have ever screamed.”

Reeves’ complete game was on display in the win. She had 27 kills, 12 digs, four aces and three blocks. Templeton would go on to lose in the quarterfinals to Ontario Christian, but Reeves had already made her mark on the special season.

“She is a tremendous talent and really carried the load offensively,” Templeton coach Cameron Schaeffer said. “Without her, things would have been much different.”

Reeves led the Los Padres League with 317 kills, accounting for more than 35 percent of the team total, and hit at better than 34 percent efficiency. She also led the team with 80 aces.

With the help of talented junior setter Camryn Roth and outside hitter Chyenne Rice, who was injured part of the year, the Eagles went 14-0 to win the LPL title. For her accomplishments, Reeves has been named The Tribune’s Girls Volleyball County Player of the Year.

“Our team just works really well together,” Reeves said. “We are mostly juniors so next year is going to be really fun.”

Templeton didn’t just play well against LPL teams. Early in the season, the Eagles knocked off some of the bigger schools in the PAC 8 with wins over Paso Robles, Atascadero and SLO High. Reeves, of course, was instrumental in those wins, averaging more than 19 kills per match.

Local coaches agree that Reeves has the talent to succeed at the next level, but at 5-foot-10, she is undersized for an outside hitter by college volleyball standards.

“It’s definitely harder because I am a shorter player,” Reeves said. “I just have to work harder than everyone.”

Reeves said she draws inspiration from former Mission Prep star Jennifer “Boo” Laird, the 2016 County Player of the Year who is listed at 5-foot-11. Laird earned a scholarship to St. Mary’s and played in 18 matches during her freshman season.

“We played at the same club, and I saw her work so hard,” Reeves said of Laird. “That really motivated me.”

Reeves is continuing her year-round volleyball schedule with IMUA Volleyball Club in Monterey, an outfit known for getting players more national exposure. She makes the long drive north to Salinas for team practices three days a week along with Roth and Rice. The trio is determined to make another playoff run during their senior seasons when the school, along with 12 other Central Coast schools, form a new league and move to the CIF-Central Section.

“We want to make it super far in CIF,” Reeves said. “I think we can do it.”

This story was originally published December 15, 2017 at 2:12 PM with the headline "She may not be that tall, but the County Volleyball Player of the Year packs a punch."