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McCook's Sis signs to play with NAIA power Hastings College
McCOOK, Neb. -- Riley Sis dreamed of playing college volleyball since her sophomore year of high school.
On Wednesday, the McCook senior made that aspiration a reality by signing her national letter of intent to play volleyball for Hastings College in front of family, friends and coaches in the McCook Senior High gymnasium.
“It’s really exciting,” Sis said after Wednesday’s signing event. “I never knew if I’d get the opportunity to play at the college level but I’m glad I did.”
Sis said she was drawn to the city of Hastings and its location.
“It’s not too far from home and it’s also close to Lincoln.”
Having a nationally-renown volleyball program helped too.
The Lady Broncos finished their 2017 season with a 28-3 record and ranked No. 9 nationally. Heading into the national tournament, Hastings College was ranked No. 3 in the country before losing to Dordt College in the Round of 16 in Sioux City, Iowa.
In 2016, Hastings College won the NAIA National Championship.
“They have a very good volleyball program,” Sis commented.
Sis will join fellow McCook graduate Josie Dominguez on the roster. Dominguez, a 2016 MHS alumna, recently completed her sophomore season with the Lady Broncos.
Sis also saw a fit with Hastings College because of its academics. Specifically, she liked the medical partnership the school has with Creighton University and Mary Lanning Healthcare.
“I’d like to study to be a radiation therapist,” Sis said of her college plans. “Doane (University) was my other big offer, but they don’t have a medical program like the one Hastings has.”
After her studies are complete, Sis said she could see herself coming back to McCook to work as a radiation therapist at Community Hospital.
“I know I’ll miss McCook, so I can definitely see myself coming back.”
For the last three seasons, Sis has been an integral part of McCook’s volleyball program. She led the Lady Bison in kills the last three seasons, while helping McCook to 20 wins in 2016 and a school-record 24 wins in 2017. She notched 293 kills last fall.
“She’s been, by far, our best hitter the last three years,” McCook head coach Dennis Troester said. “She’s helped carry this team.”
There was a time, however, when it would have been more appropriate to call Sis a project on the volleyball court.
“I wasn’t very good when I first got to high school,” Sis remembered. “I was a setter at (McCook) St. Pat’s, but I remember my freshman year when Troester said I needed to go with the hitters. That was that.”
Sis said that having Troester as a coach her entire high school career helped shape her into the player she is.
“He made me grow into who I am and he always pushed us to be the best we can be. I’m very honored to have him as a coach.”
Troester said Sis will bring a “competitive edge” and a “wicked” jump serve to the Hastings College program.
“She’ll have a lot of competition there, so it’ll be up to her to decide how good she wants to be,” he said. “She’s worked a lot on her passing ability and that’s what she’ll have to do to play at the next level. It’ll depend what side they want to play her on, but she brings a lot of skills that can be utilized.”
Hastings College head coach Matt Buttermore agreed.
The sixth-year Lady Bronco skipper said he sees a lot of attributes in Sis that can translate well to the college level.
“She’s had a great high school coach and she’s a lefty, which we only have one of in our program. She’s used to playing six rotations, so she can play on either pin for us. It also helps that she’s taken a load of swings. Having all those reps will help her with the volume of swings she’ll take in college.”
Buttermore said her family also played a role in her development as a player.
“She’s the youngest and had two older brothers, so there’s definitely some competitive edge there,” he said with a smile. “That’ll help her with the toughness you need in the college game and with being a good teammate.”
Sis said she will carry a lot of fond memories of playing volleyball for the Lady Bison. Her most notable recollections as a senior include “doing the lawnmower” with Jaimee Radel and Jayceea Hanson during the B-7 Subdistrict Final against Hastings and the tremendous community support.
“We had so many people come support us and I’ll always remember how crazy everyone went when we’d do something good.”