Spotlight: Reagan Engler
September 18, 2025 | Women's Volleyball
LUBBOCK – Reagan Engler didn't make it a goal or even know about it and we don't want to jinx it, but she'll bring a rare streak into the Texas Tech volleyball team's home opener on Friday. Through nine matches – all on the road – Engler has recorded 10 or more kills in each match to become only the second Red Raider in the last 20 seasons to start a season with double-digit kill totals.
"I want the ball every time," Engler said. "I'm playing with confidence and a sense of urgency to get the ball. I'm competitive and want to do anything I can to get our team going. I feel like every time I get the ball that I can put it down by being as aggressive as possible."
Moving from middle blocker to outside hitter this season, Engler knew her production would rise in her third season but thought it might take some time to make the adjustment. That hasn't happened. In the first match of the season, Engler established a new career-high 16 kills to start the streak which grew to nine straight with 12 kills last Saturday in a five-set win over UC San Diego in the final match of the Lumberjack Classic in Flagstaff, Arizona. Engler has led Tech six times in kills and points to start the season, including recording another new career-best with 19 kills against Georgia in the second tournament of the season. She currently leads the Big 12 with 378 total attacks and has a .204 hitting percentage. The nine-match streak to start the season was also accomplished by Kenna Sauer who started the 2022 season with 10 straight matches with double-digit kill totals.
"She's putting up numbers that are equal to what our All-Big 12 players have done the past couple of years," Texas Tech coach Tony Graystone said. "Things can change when competition levels change, but I see a lot in her. The way she is trending right now has me really confident in what she's capable of doing against even the best teams we're going to play. She's playing at a really high level."
A 6-foot-1 junior from Grapevine, Engler came into her junior season with 218 kills through 51 matches. During that time, shortened as a sophomore due to injuries, she had never recorded 10-or-more kills in a match with a previous career-high of nine coming as a freshman in matches against Kansas and Iowa State. In his press conference on Thursday, Graystone talked about the switch from middle blocker to outside hitter which began in the spring. It came after two years on campus and following Engler producing 296 kills and 104 blocks as a senior at Colleyville Heritage High School where she earned All-State Team, All-Region team, All-Area Team and All-District Team honors. Graystone said the more he watched her play, the more evident it was the change would benefit the team with her physicality, big arm and court vision. Â Â
"Production was the main reason for the move," Graystone said. "We needed a go-to player and your outside hitters are what drives everything. For her to already to be doing this at the level she is has been great for our team. It's what we needed. I'm proud of her. I keep asking her if we're putting too much on her plate and if she can handle it. She's just telling us to give her even more. There's a stability and trust that she gives our team."
Engler bought into the move right away, working hard to make the position change in the offseason result in what seems to be a seamless transition. Along with her 125 total kills, she has also recorded 79 digs this season after having only 35 in her first two seasons. Four matches have been double-doubles, including when she added a career-best 13 digs to her 19 kills against Georgia after having 14 kills and 12 digs in a win over Duke.
"I've fully accepted and embraced my new role," Engler said. "I feel like it's not entirely different than playing middle. It's even more fun because you're on the floor longer. Our team is really supportive. We always have each other's back. It makes it easy to play with this team. I have faith in them and they have faith in me. Getting on the court with confidence isn't hard when you have a team like this out there with you."
Tech is set to host three matches this weekend at the Red Raider Classic with its home opener against Albany at noon and Ole Miss at 7 p.m. on Friday before finishing it off against Incarnate Word at noon on Saturday at United Supermarkets Arena. The Red Raiders, who open Big 12 play against Baylor at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Lubbock, are currently 6-3 on the season going into their annual home tournament. Engler, who earned Red Raider Classic All-Tournament honors as a freshman, is averaging 3.38 kills per set this season and comes into the home opener with 343 career kills and growing confidence in herself and her team.
"I'm super excited to be back home," Engler said. "It's an incredible opportunity we all have to play here at Texas Tech. To feel the energy from our home fans is something that really pushes us.
"I think we have the ability to play at a really high level in every match we play. We're there. We are a super gritty team with a drive to win. It's a younger team but everyone on our team has a strong will. I think everyone understands their worth and how good we can be when we all come together. We're going to work as hard as we can and be prepared to take on anyone we play. This team is always going to fight."
