Tessa Rice: Showing Up When Bonney Lake Needs Her Most
Meet Tessa Rice, a senior middle blocker for Bonney Lake volleyball who has been at the center of some of the most dramatic matches the Panthers have played all season, and who somehow makes it look like she's having the time of her life doing it.
Six matches into the year, a pattern has started to show up. When Bonney Lake needs a jolt, Rice tends to be the one who provides it.
Reading the Game, One Beat at a Time
Standing across from a hitter with the set already in the air, Rice isn't overthinking it. She's got a rhythm in her head that keeps her locked in.
"What's actually going through my head is the saying 'ball setter ball hitter,' this helps me time my blocks," Rice said. "While tipping I am usually just looking at the court trying to find open spots to place the ball."
But it's not all business up there. Rice has a habit that might surprise the fans watching from the stands.
"During the game I usually have a song in my head and I'll sing it at the net," she said. "Which is something different."
A Habit of Setting the Tone
That focus has shown up early and often this season. In the Panthers' sweep of Olympia, Rice opened the third set with back-to-back kills before adding a pair of touch shots to help build the cushion Bonney Lake needed to close it out. It's becoming something of a signature, Rice coming alive right out of the gate to set the tempo for whatever comes next.
Refusing to Let It End
That same instinct showed up in a bigger way against Cascade Christian, when Bonney Lake trailed 12-14 in a decisive fifth set. Rather than folding, Rice took over, ripping off three straight points to flip the match in the Panthers' favor.
"That game was so long and exhausting, but I'm so competitive I couldn't let the game end on a loss," Rice said. "So I just kept telling Lia to set me and I will put it away, and she made that happen. And I am so thankful for our back row for showing up and getting such great passes."
From the Tallest Kid on the Court to a Middle Blocker
Rice's path to the net wasn't complicated. It started in sixth grade and never really stopped.
"I started playing volleyball in 6th grade, I've played for 2 club teams and my school teams," she said. "The reason I became a middle blocker was because I was always the tallest one, and usually the middle blocker is one of the tallest on the court to be able to get up there and block the ball."
High Expectations for a Senior Season
With a talented roster and a track record of coming through in the big moments, Rice isn't shy about what she thinks this Bonney Lake team is capable of.
"My expectations for this team are so high because we have so much talent, and I know we can go far by staying consistent and keeping our energy high," she said. "I want my senior year to be full of excitement and fun with friends and family before I leave."
More Than a Volleyball Player
Before volleyball, and even now alongside it, Rice has stayed busy. She's on the Bonney Lake tennis team, and growing up she played basketball for five years, tried soccer, and spent seven years dancing.
She's not sure yet where she's heading to college, she's deciding between Utah and Boise. But she knows volleyball won't be part of the next chapter. She's set on nursing instead.
"After high school I am going to go to a 4 year college and major in nursing," Rice said. "I also see myself traveling all over the world."
Balancing It All
Between volleyball, tennis, and a full academic load, Rice makes it clear the classroom is just as much a priority as the court.
"Outside of volleyball and tennis I am a hard working student," she said. "I spend a lot of time working on school and maintaining my 4.0. I also love my friends and family and spend as much time with them as possible."
Six matches into her senior season, Rice has already given Bonney Lake fans plenty to remember, a block, a tip, a song only she can hear, and a knack for showing up exactly when the Panthers need her most.
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