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Metea Valley senior Brenda Reynaga may be short in stature, but she’s long on heart.
So is her team.
The 5-foot-4 Reynaga had the unenviable task of taking over the libero position from Alabama recruit Morgan Rank, who backstopped the Mustangs last year to their first state championship.
A first-year starter, Reynaga welcomed the opportunity.
“I didn’t feel that much pressure,” she said. “I knew that as a senior I was going to have to step up and be the libero.
“I had that mentality from the beginning, so it never really phased me.”
Metea Valley coach Dave Macdonald had confidence in Reynaga, who got scant playing time as a junior. He saw what she did in practice.
“She welcomes pressure,” Macdonald said. “She was always itching last year, asking what can I do to the help the team, and that’s what she cared about.
“It wasn’t about her getting on the court. She wanted to help out any way she could, and I think that experience from last year carried over to this year.”
While unseen by the public, Reynaga’s role last season was a vital one, not only for last year’s team but this one.
Reynaga had to play defense against a formidable starting lineup that included All-American outside hitter Kira Hutson, setter Regan Holmer and outside Annabelle Troy.
“She was playing libero on our scout team last year,” Macdonald said. “She had to go up against all those girls constantly in practice, and I think it’s made her a better player.”
Indeed, Reynaga had an outstanding senior season, which ended Monday night when the Mustangs lost 23-25, 25-19, 25-16 to Naperville North in a Class 4A Plainfield North Sectional semifinal.
Metea (25-9) went a lot further than many expected considering Hutson, a Florida recruit and the team’s lone returning starter, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on Sept. 12 in the team’s 15th match.
Despite starting two freshmen, two juniors and a sophomore, the Mustangs managed to earn the second seed in the sectional. They won a regional title for just the second time in program history.
“When Kira went down, it was a blow to our team, but we were a strong team with or without her,” Reynaga said. “Everyone really stepped up to the plate.
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“Nobody shied away from their position, and I don’t feel like much changed in my style. I was captain from the beginning, libero from the beginning, so my role stayed steady.”
Macdonald said Reynaga’s steady influence was the biggest reason why the Mustangs became known for their scrappy play. They built a reputation for never giving up, which is what happened against third-seeded Naperville North.
Metea cut an 11-3 deficit to 18-15 before losing the second game and chopped a nine-point gap to four before the Huskies (35-3) pulled out the third game.
“That’s how this team has been all year,” Macdonald said. “That’s the heart of the team and it all comes from our leadership, and that’s Brenda on the court.
“She’s the heart and soul of the team and led us here. With such a young team and young setters and young hitters, you need someone that can get the ball consistently to your setters, and that’s what Brenda has done all year. That’s what she did (Monday) to give us a chance to win.”
Reynaga, who is mulling several offers from Division I schools, has a 4.4 GPA. She plans to study computer science or software engineering.
Macdonald expects Reynaga to do great things in college. But on Monday, she was still reflecting on her time with the Mustangs.
“It’s been a really great experience,” Reynaga said. “The program is literally a second family. Everyone welcomes each other, no matter the age. We are all friends.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.