The USF women’s beach volleyball squad completed their 2026 campaign last week in the West Coast Conference (WCC) championship in Santa Monica, going 1-2, which was highlighted by a 5-0 victory over the Portland Pilots in game two on April 23. With their season wrapped up, many of the seniors reflected on their time being a part of the team.
Jia Lonardi
Toronto native and professional communications grad student Lonardi played her lone season at the Hilltop this year, switching to beach volleyball after playing four years of indoor for Toronto Metropolitan. She became interested in becoming a Don because her best friend spoke highly of the program and connected her with Head Coach Emily Cook.
“This season being a senior was so special because it was my second senior year!” Lonardi said. “But this year I was also a new player so it was a bit different. It was so amazing to complete my final year of college athletics on the sand after playing four years of indoor.”
Reflecting on her growth individually since her first year, she said, “As a player, I have become a much more diverse athlete. I’ve learned so many new skills over the years, and I continue to look for new ways to improve. As a person, I have developed great leadership, teamwork and communication skills. I will use these skills forever.”
Her post-graduate plans include either staying in San Francisco or going back home to Toronto. Regarding volleyball, Lonardi said, “I might play here and there for fun with my friends, but I will definitely be taking up other forms of physical activity like yoga or pilates.”
Rainie Stevens
Stevens was drawn to beach volleyball after being told it would help her vertical jump for indoor volleyball in middle school, and eventually she made the transition to go full beach volleyball in high school. Born in Oceanside, Calif., she played volleyball at Rancho Buena Vista high school.
“It’s such a creative sport, and the energy of points can change so drastically, so quickly,” she said. “I am definitely grateful I decided to give my time to this sport over indoor. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for that decision.”
Being a part of the USF squad for all four years of her college career, Stevens said, “To be honest, I feel as though I’ve got another four years to go. Maybe that’s what denial feels like… It’s feeling all the feels of something I’ve dedicated a lot of my time to, and now I can give it my all to the team one last time, while hopefully setting a good example for those that are here to stay.”
Looking back at how she changed over her collegiate career, Stevens said, “The funny thing about change is sometimes you don’t notice when it’s happening. It creeps up on you and then one day you’re like ‘Wow, I can’t believe I did that once’ or ‘What was I thinking?’”
Stevens said she has seen herself grow in her gratitude and commitment. “Instead of thinking ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe I have to get up at 6 a.m. every day’ it’s slowly but surely turned into ‘I’m so grateful I get to get physical activity at this hour, and feel good about myself’ or ‘I’m grateful to have the opportunity to get up early, and play for a school that is keeping me in shape and allowing me to get an education.’ It’s all about perspective!”
As for plans following graduation, the media studies major hopes to explore other interests that she didn’t get to fully engage with due to the time consumption of playing volleyball. These include getting her motorcycle license, solo traveling and continuing her passion for the arts. “Volleyball has been a long and entertaining chapter, so I’m ecstatic for the new ones I’m about to delve into,” she said.
Branson Lennon
After playing her first season as a setter indoors, Lennon was encouraged by Coach Cook to try out for beach volleyball. “To my surprise, I ended up absolutely loving beach volleyball, even more so than indoor, and after contributing my first season in Spring 2024, I made the switch,” the Los Angeles native and marketing major said.
Concluding her senior season, Lennon said that showcasing leadership has meant more to her than just playing the game. “Upholding team values and reinforcing our culture is something this senior group finds extremely important to our growth and success as a program. “Team First” is a value we’ve coined from our first year here, which emphasizes the importance of putting something bigger than yourself at the center of everything you do,” she said.
Throughout her time at USF, Lennon said that her teammates Kaydence Stromes and Rainie Stevens have been the most influential towards her growth as an athlete. “They are both such talented individuals, and I feel like I’ve learned so much from their game, which in turn has helped me figure out my own style of play on the sand. I’m so thankful to have had them guiding me each year and constantly pushing me to be the best I can as a player and person.”
After graduation, Lennon said she plans to play a fifth year of volleyball at Cal Poly Humboldt, while pursuing her Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Rylie Reeves
All of Reeves’ friends played beach volleyball during the summer, which pushed her to begin playing. Reflecting on her years throughout USF, Reeves said, “I have changed so much since freshman year. I was super shy and timid both in life and in volleyball. I was so scared to talk to Emily my freshman year, and now I hang out in her office everyday after practice.”
One aspect of beach volleyball that she said that might be unexpected to people is the mental toughness required to compete. “There’s no subs, once you’re in the game, you can’t come out. It’s something I love about beach and something that can be super frustrating as well,” she said. “When you’re playing bad, you can’t get subbed out, you have to work through it.”
The communications major said that all her senior teammates had the biggest impact on her. “We’ve watched each other grow up and move through different phases of life which has been so amazing. This was seriously the best group of girls ever, and I wouldn’t change a thing. We’ve all grown so close over these past four years, and I’m so happy I’ve found my forever friends,” Reeves said.
