Cali McReynolds, a junior at Yukon High School, has established herself as a key leader and skilled setter on the varsity volleyball team. McReynolds balances athletic ambition with academic excellence, maintaining a 4.4 weighted GPA while pursuing her passion for science.
As the team’s starting setter and captain, McReynolds takes pride in orchestrating the offense and setting up teammates for success. She favors the jump serve for its power and ability to float the ball, a strategic choice that keeps opponents guessing. While confident in her own setting abilities, she particularly enjoys hitting sets from teammate Vivian on the right side. “Emma Thomas is the team’s most vocal player, thanks to her communication during blocks and attacks,” said McReynolds. She credits Blake Knecht with keeping morale high while knowing when to lock in during critical moments. She also mentioned Ava Glover as a teammate who consistently dives for digs, embodying the hustle and determination that defines the team’s culture.
McReynolds said Edmond Memorial as the toughest gym to play in, “its consistently loud student section is an intimidating factor.”
McReynolds draws inspiration from her older sister, whose grit and perseverance through the ups and downs of her own volleyball career have shaped Cali’s approach to athletics and life. “She has exemplified what grit is from the perspective of an athlete,” McReynolds said.
Beyond volleyball, McReynolds is active in her community as a member of the National Honor Society, where she participates in service projects and coaches young girls beginning their volleyball journey. Her favorite teacher is Sherry Jackson, a biomedical sciences instructor at Canadian Valley Technology Center, and her go-to spot in town is Braum’s, a local favorite she says she’d eat at every day if she could. Athletics, McReynolds says, has taught her resilience and acceptance. “No matter how unjust you think a situation is, you have to accept it and move on,” she said.
