Reaching new heights: Valley volleyball standout signs with Division I program

WASILLA — Early in her high school career, Isabel List was challenged by one of her volleyball coaches, Bryce Ray, of Ace Volleyball Academy.

“Bryce put her up to it when she was maybe a sophomore. He (told her) by the time you’re a senior, you need to be able to touch the rim,” Colony head coach Steve Reynolds said. “In the fall, on the third day of tryouts, she got it.”

List’s sport is volleyball, but showed her athleticism by touching the basketball rim. And it’s that skill set, Reynolds said, that has helped allow List to reach new heights in her volleyball career. List, a Mat-Su Career and Technical High School senior and Colony Knights volleyball standout, signed her National Letter of Intent to play volleyball for Division I Montana during a ceremony Nov. 15.

“Her athleticism stands out,” Reynolds said. “I’ve coached almost 30 years, and she’s the first kid I’ve ever had on a team that could touch the rim. She’s not super tall, but she can jump.”

List also boasts a skill set that caught the attention of the Montana coaching staff early in her high school career. List attended a three-day volleyball camp in Montana during the summer prior to her junior year. She received an offer from the Grizzlies during the camp.

“That’s when it started to get real,” List said during her signing ceremony. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

List, who also considered Division II UAA, said she’s wanted to play volleyball at the college level since her freshman year.

“I’m excited to move to the next level,” List said.

List has played at setter and outside hitter in high school, but will be a right side hitter in college, which is her preference, she said.

Reynolds said List has great potential at the college level.

“When she gets around those coaches, trainers, gets into the weight room, where they really immerse their players in what they want them to do, I think she’ll do really well,” Reynolds said. “I think she’ll get strong. She’s a great student too. I think her college career will be quite good.”

List earned Co-Northern Lights Conference Player honors as a senior. She was part of a Colony program that won the region title in 2016 and 2017, and helped the Knights finished second in the NLC and fourth in state as a senior.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.