Fresh off district championship, Curtis volleyball eyes 4A state title
The Curtis High School volleyball team isn’t the tallest team around. There are no towering players at the net, no hulking, physically intimidating players bearing down on opponents. But what the Vikings lack in sheer size, they make up for in other areas: athleticism, defense, skill, heart, energy, IQ.
“We’re just really smart with everything,” said senior middle blocker Rudi Reyes, the lone senior in the starting lineup. “Our hitters know exactly where to put the ball. It has to be so frustrating for other teams.”
Indeed, Curtis has frustrated teams all season long, compiling a 20-4 record, winning the Class 4A South Puget Sound League in the regular season and most recently, winning the District 3/4 volleyball title, beating Tahoma, Olympia and Graham-Kapowsin in the tournament to take the No. 2 seed into this weekend’s state tournament at the Yakima Valley SunDome.
“We all have a very competitive mindset, we all want to win,” said Curtis coach Taylor Buell. “We all knew how good we could be this year. We work really hard. … We’re young and we’re small compared to a lot of teams, but I always say defense and passing wins games and that’s our focus. … I let them know, we don’t have to be the tallest team in the gym, we just have to want it the most.”
There’s no one that wants it more than junior outside hitter Ella Ensign, who leads the team with 450 kills (4.5 kills per set). She’s the tone-setter for the Vikings.
“I hate losing,” Ensign said. “I just have a drive to win and be the best that I can be, lift everyone up and help everyone be the best they can be, push everyone to try their best. I want to win by a lot. Let’s get home fast.”
Having someone with that type of personality is critical to having a successful team. When Curtis is playing poorly or drops a set, Ensign rallies her teammates.
“She’s just an all-around leader, solid as far as passing, hitting, she does it all for us,” Buell said. “She’s our go-to on the court. She’s the one who keeps the girls in check. She’s probably our most competitive.”
Then there’s Reyes, who is more of a quiet leader. If Ensign is the fire, Reyes is the ice. She’s 5-foot-9 — a bit undersized for a middle blocker — but has elite leaping ability. She has a team-leading 71 blocks this season and has 190 kills.
“She’s a short middle but she sure has hops,” Buell said. “She really brings that leadership, calmness to the team, but also that quiet intensity.”
Reyes might not look the part, but teams that think they’ll be able to get the ball past her are in for a rude awakening.
“She’s huge at the net, even though she’s 5-9,” Ensign said. “She’s got hops. She can pound the ball. It’s amazing to watch, really. She’s a little girl but she can get up there and smash it.”
Curtis has been buoyed by a talented freshman class, led by right-side hitter Ariana Medchill. She has 175 kills on the season.
“She’s just our secret weapon that teams don’t expect,” Buell said. “They don’t camp on her and then she just shuts them down every single time. She’s really fun to have as another option on the court and I feel like teams cannot stop her. She’s been so successful for us and our secret little MVP in a lot of matches.”
The freshmen, in addition to their contributions on the court, bring a fun element to the team as well. They’re fond of getting everyone to dance for TikTok videos.
“I don’t even understand how it works,” said Buell, laughing. “They’re like, ‘Do this, say this, dance like this.’ They’re funny. This team is by far my favorite team I’ve ever coached.”
The Vikings are hoping to keep the good times rolling in the state tournament. Cutis opens the tournament against No. 15 Central Valley at 10:45 a.m. on Friday.
“I think we’re going to do well,” Reyes said. “They’re all big games, everyone is competitive.”
Ensign, true to character, is fired up.
“I’m ready to kick some booty,” she said. “We weren’t coming into this year ranked the best. We’ve really proven ourselves. I think that really helps us want to win state. I know we can win state.”
This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
