Physical and explosive, Regina’s Reese Naeve is one of the state’s most prolific attackers

NORTH LIBERTY — In volleyball, a net separates the two opposing teams, so of course, there’s no body contact.

And yet, one term seems to apply as well as any as the style in which Reese Naeve plays the game.

Physical.

“Yeah, I get that,” said Naeve, a senior at Iowa City Regina who led the state in kills last season.

“I’ve always been on the explosive side.”

Explosive. That applies, too.

And if you caught last year’s Class 2A regional-final match against Pella Christian, here’s one more superlative, courtesy Regina Coach Lauren Hansen:

“She was unstoppable,” Hansen said. “It gives me chills to rewatch it.”

To review, Naeve smoked 39 kills (against four errors) in 73 swings, a .479 kill efficiency, in a four-set win that sent Regina to state for the first time since 2017.

“It just all came together,” Naeve said. “We were motivated. This team loves each other so much. Everyone was completely on.”

Naeve has been a prolific attacker since she joined the Regina varsity as a freshman. She averaged 5.08 kills per set as a freshman, 5.94 as a sophomore, 7.53 as a junior.

With one season remaining, she has counted 1,795 kills and 1,043 digs at Regina. Her career kill efficiency is .334.

She has done it with modest height (5 feet, 8 1/2 inches), and uncommon hops.

Naeve’s vertical jump has been measured at 31.8 inches (with an approach), 28 inches (without).

Yeah, that’s explosive. No wonder Naeve has been a state placewinner in track and field, both in the high jump and the 100-meter hurdles.

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That strength is a byproduct of a lifting regimen begun during elementary school, one that continues.

Naeve credits older brother Jackson, former Regina star now on the University of Iowa football team.

“(Our relationship) was a total game-changer,” Reese said. “(Jackson is) one of my greatest blessings.

“He was a senior and I was a sophomore, and we had the same lifting class. It got a little intense. He was like, ‘Hey, are you going to lift? He wouldn’t let me slack.”

So Reese and Jackson will be on opposite sides of the Cy-Hawk rivalry starting next fall.

Reese picked the Cyclones because “everything was so different there,” she said. “Ames, the campus, the girls in general. They’ve got a great team culture.”

No. 4 in the preseason Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union rankings, Regina opens the season Thursday with a triangular at Waterloo against Cedar Rapids Xavier and Waterloo Columbus.

Early indications at last week’s scrimmage at Iowa City Liberty, Hansen said, were promising.

“We learned that we’re right there,” Hansen said. “I had no idea how it would be leading off with (2A No. 1 and defending-state champion) Denver.

“We had it scored at 35-35. It was good.”

Naeve is one of five returning Regina starters, including junior setter Nora Wilhelm and junior libero Addison Bollier.

“I’m excited about this group,” Hansen said. “(Bollier) has come so far. She’s picking up so much.

“Last year, we played (a rotation of) eight. This year, we could play 12 or more.”

Still, there’s no mistaking where the focus lies.

“Reese has been really good at evolving as a leader, pushing her teammates to be their best,” Hansen said.

And here comes that word again.

“You don’t talk about physicality much in volleyball, but she’s got it,” Hansen continued. “Her game — serve reception, defense, blocking, attacking. She has so many shots.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com