NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT/D9) — Inside the gym, it is muggy. Oppressive. The air is thick.
But Taylor Ripple shrugs it off. She jumps with a sudden explosion to smash volleyballs over the net with startling velocity. She sprawls out to dig them inches from hitting the floor. She delicately pops them into the air with her fingertips.
Since the 5-foot-10 middle hitter became a six-rotation player last season for Redbank Valley, Ripple’s volleyball skills have blossomed across the board.
And they have come in quite handy in a hectic summer playing for Renaissance Volleyball Club.
Ripple has traveled all over the country to play and improve her skills. Just in the past month, she has made the journey to Orlando, Fla., for the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships, where her 17 Red Armstrong team won the Diamond Bracket.
And just days after she returned home, she was on a plane to Las Vegas for another national tournament with Renaissance.
“We came home for two days and then we went straight off to Vegas,” Ripple said. “It was really good competition. It was kind of crazy. There were a lot of courts and there was a lot of good competition, girls who had committed to this big schools. It was honestly really fun to play with them at this level.”
Ripple said there was no substitute for what she has learned this summer playing against top competition from across the nation.
It has helped her in ways she hasn’t even fathomed.
“I learned that I kind of need to have more confidence in myself,” Ripple said. “My Renaissance coaches, they are from Armstrong, and they’ve taught me so much. I know if I’m doing something wrong, I can fix it. They showed me how to keep a good attitude all the times and still bring more love to the game. They’ve also been helping me with recruitment. It’s just been an all-around good experience with Renaissance and I’m very happy about it.”
Volleyball has always had a special place in Ripple’s heart.
But her loyalties have long been divided between that sport and softball.
That reached a breaking point this year when Ripple had to choose one or the other if she wanted to be the best.
She picked volleyball.
“I didn’t have the time I wanted with Renaissance, and I didn’t want to have the softball team rely on me and me not be able to be there,” Ripple said “I didn’t want to have to say, ‘Sorry. Can’t be there. I have a volleyball tournament. I can’t be there for the game.’ I would just feel really bad if I would have to do that and not be there for some of the most important moments.”
It was a hard choice, but one Ripple said she knew she needed to make.
She wanted to play volleyball at the next level and to do that she needed to fully commit.
Ripple had already committed to play at Lock Haven University and coach Mike Kraft.
But Kraft left for Penn State University, only to return.
It was a strange turn of events for Ripple, who is still pondering her college decision.
“Last spring I kind of verbally committed to Lock Haven, but the coach left and I opened it back up a little bit,” Ripple said. “I started talking to a few other colleges and I really like Grove City College. But Lock Haven’s coach came back, and I’m still talking with him. So I’m looking at Lock Haven and Grove City right now.”
Ripple is hoping to make her choice soon.
“I’m not sure what I want my decision to be yet, but I do want to make the decision before my senior year so I don’t really have to worry about it,” she said. “I can just do my thing and play all out for my teammates.”
“It was kind of stressful, but I’m glad happened because it opened me up to Grove City,” she added. “It opened my eyes to different places.”
Ripple opened some eyes last season for Redbank Valley, which had a limited roster, but still enjoyed success.
(Ripple was a standout last season as a six-rotation player for Redbank Valley./photo by Stephanie Bonanno)
Ripple never came off the court. Neither did her other five teammates. The iron-woman play helped her develop her other skills after primarily being a middle hitter for much of her career.
“It’s definitely really helped me improve, and it especially helped with my recruitment process with colleges,” Ripple said. “Before, I was just kind of used as a middle. I couldn’t pass very well and I could only block and hit. Ever since I started playing all the way around and working on my passing and other things like that, it’s really helped my play a lot. Rather than just being recruited as a middle, I can be recruited as someone who can come in and play multiple positions. The coach can put me anywhere on the court. I think that’s really good. I was really grateful that Coach (Ashley Anderson) decided to make that decision last year because it really did help me out a lot.”
Ripple is looking forward to seeing what she and the Bulldogs can do this season.
Redbank will have to replace Izzy Bond, a dangerous hitter last season, who graduated. Senior Mylee Harmon also decided not to play this season to focus on basketball and track and field.
But Ripple said the team is getting other players back and will have younger players filling bigger roles.
“I’m really excited for the year because I think there were problems last year, but I think we as a group can really come together and put that behind us and honestly just have a really fun year,” she said.
The season ended abruptly for Redbank Valley last year in a crushing way.
The Bulldogs led Otto-Eldred 2-0 before losing the final three sets to get bounced in the first round of the District 9 Class A playoffs.
It left a very bad taste in Ripple’s mouth.
“Honestly, I still think about that game. We should have won,” Ripple said. “That kind of hurts. But I’m hoping we can learn to finish better and kind of pick up our play. Rather than backing off teams, I hope we can just go out and step on the gas pedal and learn how to play more aggressive.”
Ripple is also hoping to be more aggressive on the court.
One thing she has learned through her experience with Renaissance is to take the play at the opponent.
She’s also sharpened her volleyball IQ.
“I’ve really been able to improve my awareness on the court, being able to predict what the other team wants to do,” Ripple said. “I think I’ve definitely been more aggressive hitting and also improved my passing. I would like to become even more aggressive at hitting and increase my vertical. I want coach to be able to rely on me when I’m on the outside to put the balls down.”
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