ALL IN: Taylor Ripple, a senior from Redbank Valley, is spending the summer traveling across the country as part of the Renaissance Volleyball Club

NEW BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania (EYT/D9) — It’s humid in the gym. Oppressive. The air is thick.

But Taylor Ripple shrugs it off. She leaps with a sudden explosion, smashing the volleyballs over the net with astonishing speed. She stretches to dig them out just inches before they hit the ground. She gently bounces them into the air with her fingertips.

Since the 5-foot-10 middle blocker was named to the sixth rotation for Redbank Valley last season, Ripple’s volleyball skills have improved across the board.

And they’ve proven quite useful during a hectic summer of playing for the Renaissance Volleyball Club.

Ripple has traveled all over the country to play and improve her skills. Just last month, she traveled to Orlando, Florida, for the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships, where her 17-person Red Armstrong team won the Diamond Bracket.

And just days after returning home, she was on a plane to Las Vegas for another national tournament with Renaissance.

“We came home for two days and then went straight to Vegas,” Ripple said. “It was really good competition. It was kind of crazy. There were a lot of spots and there was a lot of good competition, girls who had chosen to go to these big schools. It was honestly really fun to play with them at that level.”

Ripple said there is no substitute for what she learned this summer playing against top competition from around the country.

It helped her in ways she couldn’t even imagine.

“I learned that I kind of need more confidence,” Ripple said. “My Renaissance coaches are from Armstrong and they’ve taught me so much. I know if I do something wrong, I can make it right. They’ve shown me how to always keep a good attitude and still bring more love to the game. They’ve also helped me with recruiting. It’s just been an all-around good experience with Renaissance and I’m very happy about it.”

Volleyball has always had a special place in Ripple’s heart.

But their loyalties have long been divided between that sport and softball.

This reached a critical point this year when Ripple had to choose one or the other if it wanted to be the best.

She chose volleyball.

“I didn’t have as much time as I wanted at Renaissance, and I didn’t want the softball team to rely on me and not be able to be there,” Ripple said. “I didn’t want to have to say, ‘Sorry. I can’t be there. I have a volleyball tournament. I can’t be at the game.’ I would just feel really bad if I had to do that and not be able to be there for some of the most important moments.”

It was a difficult decision, but Ripple said she knew she had to make it.

She wanted to play volleyball at the next level and to do so she had to be fully committed.

Ripple had already agreed to play at Lock Haven University and coach Mike Kraft.

But Kraft went to Penn State University, only to return again.

It was a strange turn of events for Ripple, who is still pondering her college decision.

“Last spring I verbally committed to Lock Haven, but the coach left and I opened it up a little bit,” Ripple said. “I started talking to a few other colleges and I really like Grove City College. But the coach from Lock Haven came back and I’m still talking to him. So I’m looking at Lock Haven and Grove City right now.”

Ripple hopes to make its decision soon.

“I’m not sure how I’m going to decide yet, but I want to make the decision before my senior year so I don’t have to worry about it,” she said. “I can just do my thing and give it my all for my teammates.”

“It was pretty stressful, but I’m glad it happened because it opened my eyes to Grove City,” she added. “It opened my eyes to other places.”

Ripple made waves last season at Redbank Valley, which had a limited roster but still found success.

Ripple never left the field. Neither did her other five teammates. Playing Iron Woman helped her develop her other skills after being primarily a middle blocker for most of her career.

“It’s definitely helped me improve and it’s especially helped me with my recruiting process with colleges,” Ripple said. “Before, I was only used as a midfielder. I couldn’t pass very well and could only block and hit. Since I’ve started playing all positions and working on my passing and things like that, it’s really helped my game a lot. Instead of just being recruited as a midfielder, I can be recruited as someone who can play multiple positions. Coach can put me anywhere on the court. I think that’s really good. I was really thankful that coach (Ashley Anderson) made that decision last year because it really helped me a lot.”

Ripple is excited to see what she and the Bulldogs can accomplish this season.

Redbank will have to replace Izzy Bond, a dangerous hitter last season who has graduated. Senior Mylee Harmon has also decided not to play this season to focus on basketball and track.

However, Ripple said that other players are returning to the team and that younger players will take on larger roles.

“I’m really excited for this year because I think there were struggles last year, but I think we as a group can come together and put that behind us and honestly just have a really fun year,” she said.

For Redbank Valley, last year’s season ended abruptly and in a devastating way.

The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead against Otto-Eldred before losing the final three sets and being eliminated in the first round of the District 9 Class A playoffs.

It left a very bad taste in Ripple’s mouth.

“Honestly, I still think about that game. We should have won,” Ripple said. “It kind of hurts. But I hope we can learn to finish better and improve our game. Instead of pushing teams back, I hope we can just go out there and put our foot on the gas and learn to play more aggressively.”

Ripple also hopes to be more aggressive on the pitch.

One thing she learned from her experience with Renaissance is to swing the game in the opponent’s favor.

She also sharpened her volleyball IQ.

“I’ve been able to really improve my awareness on the court and predict what the other team wants to do,” Ripple said. “I think I’m definitely more aggressive hitting and have improved my passing as well. I want to become even more aggressive hitting and improve my vertical. I want coach to be able to count on me when I’m out there and putting the balls down.”