by Aaron Salas
Daily Lobo
UNM outside hitter Anna Reines does not know the meaning of the term "off-season." Instead of taking the summer off, Reines traveled to the Czech Republic to play among the best in the world representing New Mexico on the USA Select Team.
From May 8-18, the team of top volleyball players from across the country practiced with and competed against teams including Turkey and Slovenia in the European Spring Cup. The USA team practiced in Prague for two days, and then went to Brno for the tournament. Team members spent the last day in Prague before coming home.
"It was nice because the cities were so different that we got to see two different sides of the Czech Republic," Reines said.
Reines' best performances were against Turkey and the Czech National Team. She had five assists and six kills in the respective games.
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On those six kills, Reines pulled her team through the last game of the tournament against the Czech National Team.
"I was tired but I came in because the starting outside hitter was not performing well," she said. "I wanted to give it my all because it was our last game."
However, the volleyball trip was not all business. Reines and her teammates toured around Prague and Brno and got to see many historic buildings including the Prague Castle.
"I have never been to Europe and I was happy that volleyball allowed me that opportunity," Reines said. "Plus the shopping was great."
Reines, who transferred to UNM after two seasons at the University of Minnesota, was nominated to play on the USA team by UNM head coach, Kelley Sliva McKee. Sliva McKee said that the experience helped the usually offensive minded Reines improve her defense. Reines agreed.
"I got experience in the back row and I hope to get the opportunity to play all the way around this year," Reines said.
Another new skill Reines developed on tour was a jump serve.
"She worked all last spring and now has an effective jump serve," Sliva McKee said. Along with her work on defense and serving, Reines is developing her leadership skills, as she is now playing on a team that includes 10 freshmen.
"I am excited to be in the gym with 10 athletes that will help me to grow as a leader and develop my leadership skills," Reines said.
Sliva McKee says she believes Reines leads by example, but is also very vocal and good at communicating with her teammates.
Reines, who was selected to the All-Mountain West Conference team last season, was not a preseason pick this year. She looks at the setback as another challenge.
"I want to be the L-1, which would allow me more opportunities for kills and I want to be all-conference again this year," Reines said.
Although the team has not yet formally sat down to discuss goals, Sliva McKee and Reines have goals in mind. Reines would like to beat NMSU twice and improve upon last season's record of 10-21. As for Sliva McKee, she said, "I just want the team to get better everyday."
For now, Reines is ready to see what the season will bring.
