Volleyball can be an aggressive sport, and for senior outside hitter Rebeccah Rapin, her favorite part is killing — a volleyball, that is.

The four-year starter recorded her 1,000th career kill on Sept. 4 against the University of Central Missouri at the Tampa Classic in Tampa, Fla. Rapin is the 12th player in Grand Valley State University volleyball history to become a member of the 1,000-kill club and is on pace to break into the top-10 this season with the full conference season ahead of her.

“I didn’t even know I had reached (1,000 kills) until my friend’s boyfriend sent me a text message,” said Rapin, who was presented with a commemorative volleyball to mark the milestone before Saturday’s home match against Michigan Technological University. “It’s a great accomplishment, but I can’t take all the credit. My teammates are what make me successful. They actually deserve the credit.”

After a stellar freshman season where the Saginaw native earned both the GLIAC and Great Lakes Region Freshman of the Year awards, Rapin has continually worked to improve all aspects of her game.

“I think, as a coach, I always looked to her as a go-to player, even back when she was a freshman,” said GVSU head coach Deanne Scanlon, who is entering her 16th season at the helm of the volleyball program. “I’ve always been able to put high expectations on her since the start because I know she can handle it, and I know she wants to take on that responsibility.”

A coach usually would not mess with success such as Rapin’s, but Scanlon moved her from her natural position of middle hitter to the outside this season. The move is only about four feet, but Scanlon hopes it will have a much larger impact on the Laker offense.

“Rebeccah is just someone who likes to be challenged, and I don’t have ask her to be better. I just throw challenges at her,” Scanlon said. “She’s embraced the move to the right side, and we know we can exploit teams with her out there.”

Rapin’s flexibility as a player is one reason why she is the most valuable player on the team, but her ability as a leader is something that impacts everyone involved.

“I’m the kind of player who looks at stats, but probably not the ones you’re thinking of. I usually keep track of how many errors I have,” Rapin said. “My teammates know I’m not perfect. I just try to continue to lead by example and I know it’s going to take our entire team to be successful this year, so it’s important I keep letting them know that.”

While the achievements may not have been on top of Rapin’s list of priorities, the impact it has had on GVSU volleyball history is one that will forever notched in the record books. Along with her top-12 ranking in kills, Rapin is also in the top 10 all-time in hitting percentage and assisted blocks.

“Rebeccah is never one to put herself before the team, but this is something great and we need to recognize her achievement,” Scanlon said. “It’s good to acknowledge it because it shows younger players that their hard work is being put in the right place.”

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