Reese Messer, a native of Olathe and a 2024 graduate of St. James Academy in Lenexa, announced her transfer from the University of Southern California to the University of Kansas. After a single season with the USC Trojans, Messer chose to return to her home region to continue her collegiate volleyball career.
Homecoming motivated by family and community
In an interview, Messer explained that the excitement of playing “big games” on the road was tempered by homesickness. “I didn’t think I really realized how much I’d miss it until I left,” she said, reflecting on the support she felt from her parents, Brian and Katie, and friends who traveled to watch her in Madison, Wisconsin, and Iowa City, Iowa.
Her decision to come back to Kansas aligns with a desire to be near family and to experience the close‑knit community she grew up with. “I think people realize how good a people and kind everyone is here, how much we care about one another and how we make each other better,” Messer added.
Coach Ulmer’s expectations
Second‑year Jayhawks head coach Matt Ulmer, who recruited Messer while serving as head coach at Oregon, praised her abilities. “She’s a really elite setter,” Ulmer said. “We’re trying to run an offense that’s pretty fast and multi‑faceted. That requires a really great quarterback.” He expects Messer to start at setter and help drive the team’s offensive rhythm.
Ulmer also highlighted the value of keeping local talent on campus. In addition to Messer, the Jayhawks added 6‑foot‑3 outside hitter Taylor Stanley, a Blue Valley Southwest High School graduate who was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in preseason projections.
Recent achievements and upcoming season
During her freshman year at USC, Messer helped the Trojans post a 25‑7 overall record and earn a Sweet 16 berth in the NCAA tournament. The Jayhawks enter the 2026 season ranked No. 15 in the preseason AVCA poll and are projected to finish third in the Big 12. Messer earned a spot on the All‑Big 12 preseason team, underscoring her reputation as one of the conference’s top setters.
Kansas finished second in the Big 12 last season behind Arizona State and posted a 24‑11 record. The team hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament before falling to Nebraska in a straight‑set loss.
Looking ahead
With Messer anchoring the offense, Ulmer believes the Jayhawks can improve on last year’s performance. “She wants to win. She wants to be great,” he said. “That attitude is something that you’re hoping will just infect your teammates and raise our level of competitiveness.”
The addition of Messer and other local players reflects a broader trend of Kansas universities drawing talent from the surrounding community, strengthening both the athletic programs and the ties between campuses and their hometowns.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
