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State Gazette Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year - Dyer County Lady Choctaw Teagan Reed
Monday, June 17, 2024
Dyer County Lady Choctaw Teagan Reed
JASON PEEVYHOUSE
Coming off a 2023 campaign which saw her as part of a third straight Dyer County volleyball team to reach the TSSAA Class AA State Tournament, Lady Choctaw junior outside hitter Teagan Reed has been named the State Gazette Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year for this past school year.
Reed was a key point of the Dyer County offensive attack on the court. And, like previous outside hitters for the orange and white’s state tournament teams, the junior was selected to the Tennessee Sports Writers’ Association All-State Team for Class AA in January.
Dyer County Head Coach Shanna O’Bright talked about the latest in a string of front-line hitters to stand out for the Lady Choctaws.
“Teagan is so explosive,” O’Bright said. “And she is such a competitor. She likes a challenge.
“She likes to go up and see if she can find the floor and put the ball on the floor. She did a very great job with that. What a season!”
Reed’s junior stat line is a good example of this. Reed had 489 kills during the 2023 season while also getting 29 blocks. She had 351 digs. On the serving line, she also had 34 aces during her junior year.
Stats aside, the Lady Choctaw head coach added she couldn’t say enough positive things about Reed.
“She is a great kid and such a hustler,” O’Bright said. “I am excited to see what her senior season is going to bring. She is working really to make it even better than the junior season which came before it.”
O’Bright agreed Reed is carrying on the tradition of strong frontline hitters for the Lady Choctaws.
“They love to hit and they love to swing,” O’Bright explained. “They love to work on that. Offense is fun for them and they love to be able to run it quickly.”
O’Bright pointed to the areas where Reed improved between her sophomore and junior seasons.
“I think she got a little more consistent on the serving line and a little more consistent with the balls that she hit,” the Dyer County head coach said.
“Overall, she found more ways to put the ball on the floor.”
What some may not see is as quickly with Reed is her competitive streak.
“I don’t think you will see many kids that are as competitive as she is,” O’Bright said. “She’s been brought up that way with her dad in the gym. She knows how to compete.
“And she is so tough. I love the fight in her.”
Speaking of, Reed has an extensive background in boxing thanks to her father, Terrance Reed. O’Bright agreed this background has really helped her in volleyball.
“Like I said, she just loves to compete and knows how to compete,” O’Bright added. “She’s been doing it for years.”
Serving is a big part of her game as well.
“Serving is a critical part of the game of volleyball, Dyer County’s head coach explained. “We try to serve 90 percent or higher. We try not to miss a lot of serves and that is something that got us in the state tournament last season. We missed more serves than we normally do.”
Heading into her senior year, Reed will be looked to as a player which can help the Lady Choctaws reach the state tournament again this season.
“She will play on the outside and serve as well,” O’Bright said. “She will probably stay on the court just about more than anyone else. She’s is just a true asset all the way around.
“She is a fantastic kid.”