SE: K-State VB Senior Reilly Killeen’s USWNT Experience Helps Open Libero’s Eyes to Different Perspective
Jul 06, 2018 | Volleyball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
A SpongeBob scene that became an Internet meme turned into the best volleyball advice K-State senior libero Reilly Killeen received at the at the U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team-Detroit camp.
The wise words came from USWNT-Detroit head coach Nickie Sanlin. Whenever a player made a mistake, Killeen said Sanlin would repeat two words — nobody cares — while making a half-circle motion with her hands. It's a play on this SpongeBob scene, which became the template for hundreds of memes, including the message Sanlin passed along to the 24 players in Detroit, Michigan.
"I kind of have that in the back of my head now whenever I make a mistake," Killeen said. "It's funny."
For Killeen, who played every set for K-State last season, it's also a serious reminder.
A self-described "perfectionist," the 5-foot-4 Wildcat typically does not let a mistake pass easily. Her experience in Detroit, with top-notch collegiate players from across the country, helped her see the detriment that can have on the court.
"I'm definitely a perfectionist. My coaches know it, all my teammates know it," she said. "I tend to get frustrated, especially at myself. That's something I've struggled with but I'm working on it, and having that point of view really opened my eyes to a whole different perspective and I just felt really free."
Killeen, who trained in Michigan from June 22 to July 1, said she looks to bring this refined mindset back for her final season at K-State.
"It really took the pressure off. Sometimes playing in college, it's a very high-pressure environment, so it was nice to just be free," she said. "Everyone had a really positive attitude, too. There was no negativity. So I'm just focused on keeping that same environment."
In her first USWNT training experience, Killeen spent the first four-and-a-half days on the campus of the University of Michigan, practicing twice a day. The group was then split into two 12-player teams and moved to Detroit to compete in matches for the final three days at the Cobo Center.
"Everyone was so good, so it was fun to play at such a high level for a long period of time," she said. "You got a lot of reps."
More important, those reps came with coaches watching, a benefit the vast majority of players across the country do not get during the summer because of NCAA rules.
"It really was an advantage," Killeen said. "Getting formal training was really valuable."
Last season, Killeen's first with K-State after transferring from Arizona, she recorded a team-best 412 digs and 3.55 digs per set. Additionally, she finished third on the team with 19 service aces. She also ended with specific items to work on over the offseason, all of which she was able to hone in on in Michigan.
"Ever since the season ended I've been working on defense, being more explosive and more disciplined, and with how fast we were going, that's what you had to be — stopped, disciplined and ready to react. You didn't have time to be floating around back there," she said. "I feel like my vision's gotten a lot better, how I react to balls has gotten more efficient, more explosive, so I'm really excited to see what I can do."
Killeen will finish out the summer with her teammates, training in Ahearn Field House in preparation for her last season. A native of Hawaii, she may be the most excited for the 2018 campaign to begin because the Wildcats start it at the Texaco Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Honolulu on August 24-26.
"When I found out I literally started crying," she said of playing in her home state. "I'm really excited to play one last time in front of tons of friends and family. I've already called half the girls' tickets on the team. I'm going to have a lot of people there."
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A SpongeBob scene that became an Internet meme turned into the best volleyball advice K-State senior libero Reilly Killeen received at the at the U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team-Detroit camp.
The wise words came from USWNT-Detroit head coach Nickie Sanlin. Whenever a player made a mistake, Killeen said Sanlin would repeat two words — nobody cares — while making a half-circle motion with her hands. It's a play on this SpongeBob scene, which became the template for hundreds of memes, including the message Sanlin passed along to the 24 players in Detroit, Michigan.
"I kind of have that in the back of my head now whenever I make a mistake," Killeen said. "It's funny."
For Killeen, who played every set for K-State last season, it's also a serious reminder.
A self-described "perfectionist," the 5-foot-4 Wildcat typically does not let a mistake pass easily. Her experience in Detroit, with top-notch collegiate players from across the country, helped her see the detriment that can have on the court.
"I'm definitely a perfectionist. My coaches know it, all my teammates know it," she said. "I tend to get frustrated, especially at myself. That's something I've struggled with but I'm working on it, and having that point of view really opened my eyes to a whole different perspective and I just felt really free."
Killeen, who trained in Michigan from June 22 to July 1, said she looks to bring this refined mindset back for her final season at K-State.
"It really took the pressure off. Sometimes playing in college, it's a very high-pressure environment, so it was nice to just be free," she said. "Everyone had a really positive attitude, too. There was no negativity. So I'm just focused on keeping that same environment."
In her first USWNT training experience, Killeen spent the first four-and-a-half days on the campus of the University of Michigan, practicing twice a day. The group was then split into two 12-player teams and moved to Detroit to compete in matches for the final three days at the Cobo Center.
"Everyone was so good, so it was fun to play at such a high level for a long period of time," she said. "You got a lot of reps."
More important, those reps came with coaches watching, a benefit the vast majority of players across the country do not get during the summer because of NCAA rules.
"It really was an advantage," Killeen said. "Getting formal training was really valuable."
Last season, Killeen's first with K-State after transferring from Arizona, she recorded a team-best 412 digs and 3.55 digs per set. Additionally, she finished third on the team with 19 service aces. She also ended with specific items to work on over the offseason, all of which she was able to hone in on in Michigan.
"Ever since the season ended I've been working on defense, being more explosive and more disciplined, and with how fast we were going, that's what you had to be — stopped, disciplined and ready to react. You didn't have time to be floating around back there," she said. "I feel like my vision's gotten a lot better, how I react to balls has gotten more efficient, more explosive, so I'm really excited to see what I can do."
Killeen will finish out the summer with her teammates, training in Ahearn Field House in preparation for her last season. A native of Hawaii, she may be the most excited for the 2018 campaign to begin because the Wildcats start it at the Texaco Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Honolulu on August 24-26.
"When I found out I literally started crying," she said of playing in her home state. "I'm really excited to play one last time in front of tons of friends and family. I've already called half the girls' tickets on the team. I'm going to have a lot of people there."
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