Reeves Ladies Race Toward Olympic Dreams

Candice Kasischke
Intern, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: candice.kasischke@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 14, 2010) – USA Volleyball continues to exuberate its usual greatness through the passing of generations. “Like mother, like daughter” seems to be an accurate saying pertaining to the case of mother Jeanne Reeves and her daughter, Kelly Reeves (San Diego, Calif.).

Olympic silver medalist, Jeanne (Beauprey) Reeves, has set the bar high for her aspiring Olympian daughter. However, Kelly is pacing herself for not only following her mother’s footsteps, but for advancing even further. She is positioning herself to attain this lofty goal as she takes the next step in competing internationally with the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team at the NORCECA Women’s Junior Continental Championship (U-20) held in Tijuana, Mexico, from July 4-12.

Kelly was born in Los Angeles to Mike and Jeanne Reeves; ironically the same location that as a 23-year-old in 1984, Jeanne, won her Olympic silver medal with the U.S. Women’s Olympic Volleyball Team. Kelly’s father, a former track athlete for Oregon State, has also contributed in passing down strikingly athletic genes to Kelly that helped in paving the road to her present success. Along with her dually received natural-born athleticism from the Reeves couple, Kelly has received Jeanne’s remarkable coaching since she was 12-years-old and beginning her volleyball career. Her mother was the assistant coach for her first club team with Wave Volleyball Club.

“It’s hard sometimes because mom gets on me the most, but she strives to push me toward excellence and prepares me for that next step while still helping me through the tough times,” Kelly said. “She is a loving coach. We talk about volleyball all of the time. We actually help one another because I give her my opinion on different drills and she tells me what I need to work on. I enjoy having her on the sidelines; she is one of the best coaches I have ever had. All of my club teammates love her too - she treats us like 13 daughters.”

Copyrighted by: USA Volleyball   Kelly Reeves training with U.S. Women's Junior National Team in May 2010 The accomplishment that stimulated Kelly’s life-long dream took place eight years before she was even born. It was the occurrence in 1984 when Jeanne triumphed with her Olympic silver medal in volleyball. Kelly conveys that the definitive factor which ultimately sparked her decision and direction was when hearing the story of Jeanne’s Olympic success for the first time.

“Ever since my mother told me the story about her experience, I have had dreams of playing in the Olympics,” Kelly said. “I will try out for the Olympic national team down the road. My biggest dream is to win an Olympic gold medal. I also want to win a NCAA championship, but the big one is that gold medal. I will do whatever it takes.”

Aside from the connection of interest between the Reeves women for Olympic competition, they also share additional commonalities. Both mother and daughter stand at 6-0, love beach and indoor volleyball, are major assets as middle blockers and share the name Beauprey as Jeanne’s maiden name and Kelly’s middle name. From Jeanne’s perspective (Kelly’s lifelong coach), she believes that Kelly is even more athletic and capable of an Olympic gold medal than she was herself.

“Kelly and I have a lot in common,” Jeanne said. “We are both very shy, but love to be around people. Our interests are much the same. We have similar work habits, work as hard as we can in everything we do, want to be the best we can be, and always try to put the team first. We will do whatever it takes to get it done, and do whatever is best for the team.”

“Physically, we are both strong, fast and have very good athletic ability, Kelly more so than me,” Jeanne continued. “Kelly has progressed into a ‘complete’ volleyball player. She can do all the skills and most of them very efficiently. I have coached Kel through her entire junior career and am so proud to have been a part of her development, not only as a player, but as a young lady too. Kelly has such passion and enthusiasm for the game, plays from her heart, loves to compete and is a joy to watch on the court.”

Kelly’s recent decision to attend UCLA - Jeanne’s alma mater where she was a multi-sport athlete and named into the Bruin Hall of Fame - was partially due to her acquired familiarity with the school.

“Ever since I was little, I would go to football, basketball and volleyball games,” Kelly said. “I was looking at other schools like Nebraska and Washington, but UCLA was always on my mind. I went on a visit and I knew it was where I was supposed to be. It felt like home.”

Despite her parents’ contributions and the extraordinary examples they set, Kelly has found her own niche in athletics. She demonstrates an unstoppable work ethic and obtains an intuitive and competitive nature for the game.

“I am extremely competitive and passionate as a player,” Reeves said. “There is no feeling like diving into the stands to make a dig or putting a kill down the sideline. Playing volleyball is my way of freedom to get away from stress. I just love the game.”

Copyrighted by: USA Volleyball  Kelly Reeves (#80) with U.S. Women's Junior National Team in May 2010 Reeves has also built a noteworthy resume even at the age of 18. She helped her team in winning gold at the 2008 NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship in Puerto Rico (along with current U.S. Women’s Junior National teammates Molly Kreklow, Carly Thomas, Jennifer Bonilla, and Carly Wopat).

“I went to Puerto Rico in 2008 and loved the international play and learning different techniques,” Reeves said. “It really tests you and you have to show the coaches what you’re made of by giving 100 percent for every play. I am living my dream, but still want to get my game up.”

Last season Reeves was named the 2009 San Diego Athlete of the Year and led Cathedral Catholic High School as team captain for a CIF Division III State Championship. She was also recognized as her school’s Career Athlete and Most Athletic.

Reeves will progress her career as she enters international play as an attacker for the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team as they venture to Mexico next month. Along with gaining intensive experience there, she hopes to improve on a few tips that Head Coach Rob Browning has suggested that will advance her play.

“Individually, I need to work on deep serve-receive passing and being a little smarter as a hitter,” Reeves said. “Coach Rob said that the number-one rule in volleyball is to be smart and I have been trying to follow that rule. I am most excited to play the different countries. International play is really amazing and unique from what you see in the United States. You see very diverse play from each country. Hopefully it will boost my game up.”

From the words of Jeanne Reeves, the lady who knows her best, she has no doubt that Kelly’s mental and physical potential are promising characteristics that will allow her to race toward a coveted Olympic gold medal.

“Both as a mother and a coach, I feel that Kelly has what it takes to go to the next level,” Reeves said. “She is a committed athlete and willing to sacrifice. Her characteristics help make players around her better. She takes no short cuts, and she truly plays because she loves this game and the competition involved.”

Tags: 2010 U.S. Women's Junior National Team, 2010 U.S. Women's Junior National Training Team, Carly Thomas, Carly Wopat, Jeanne Beauprey Reeves, Jennifer Bonilla, Kelly Reeves, Molly Kreklow, NORCECA, NORCECA Continental Championship, NORCECA Girls' Youth Continental Championship, NORCECA Women's Junior Continental Championship, Rob Browning