Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Kiel Maddox
Reagan Leonard: Arizona to Fresno
9/21/2020 2:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Sometimes the best things in life happen unexpectedly.
For Fresno State senior libero Reagan Leonard, she never expected her journey to lead her to Fresno State. A native of Glendale, Ariz., it took a chance recruiting trip in 2016 to open up her eyes to the Central Valley.
With fellow Arizonan Sydney Lostumo committing to the Bulldogs and having a former coach who played at Fresno State, she was somewhat familiar with the program, but needed to see more.
"I came on a recruiting visit with my parents and I did not have high expectations to want to come here, but when I got on campus I was blown away by the facilities and the community and how much they support athletics," Leonard said. "The community really cares about their athletes here and seeing that, I committed a week later."
With a combined 11 juniors & seniors on the team during her freshman season in 2017, the upperclassmen presence was heavy and that can sometimes be intimidating to a young freshman.
"It was scary to jump right into the beast of college athletics, but it was awesome to play as a freshman. I remember my first game and how amazed I was to play," Leonard remembers.
Receiving a lot of help and guidance along the way from the veterans, she was just thankful to be healthy and back on the court after having to undergo ACL surgery following her senior season in high school, "I think about gratitude and how grateful I was to be in position to play such high-level volleyball on a high-level team."
After playing in all 30 matches as a freshman, a new challenge awaited Leonard as a sophomore as the Bulldogs went through a head coaching transition with the addition of Jonathan Winder.
Coming to Fresno State as an assistant coach from Washington, Winder brought a new coaching staff and attitude with him.
"It was definitely new," Leonard said on the transition. "It felt like a whirlwind and it happened very fast."
Going through a coaching change can be hard, but Leonard was determined to make the best of it as her coaches got to know her and she got to know them.
"It has been fun to experience the transition, because I have learned a lot from it and during the course of my four years, I have experienced a lot of change and met a lot of different people. I think I have learned a lot through it and am grateful for it," Leonard said.
The Bulldogs totaled 22 wins and earned a second-place finish in the Mountain West in 2018 which certainly showed the culture Winder and staff was being building was paying off on the court.
"It was fun to experience the new coaching staff and how much they cared about us and how much they pushed us each week."
As the Bulldogs made the postseason for the first time since 2002, Leonard earned All-Mountain West honorable mention honors and broke the single-season record for digs in a season previously set by assistant coach Maggie Eppright in 2015.
While finding success on the court, Leonard was searching for something equally as fulfilling off the court in the classroom.
"I remember being an underclassman and being stressed out about deciding what I wanted to major in and during the transition of coaching, they really helped me find grounding in myself and discover what I loved."
"I was in (assistant coach) Hardy's (Woolridge) office always picking his brain and he read me a quote that it doesn't matter what you want to do when you are older, just do what you want to do now and what you love."
Heeding that advice, she discovered her passion for women's, gender and sexuality studies and decided to make that her major.
"I am completely obsessed with my major and love studying everything my classes offer me. I definitely made the right choice in what I want to major in."
Wanting to pursue that passion even further after her undergraduate work is done, Leonard has set her sights on her next step, "After volleyball, I want to go to graduate school."
With the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the Bulldogs' season to the spring, Leonard is eyeing one final run with the 'Dogs and has high expectations for Fresno State on the court this season.
"At the end of the day, I would love to be a Mountain West champion."
With the 'Dogs having earned a second-place finish in the Mountain West in 2018, its highest conference finish since 2003, Leonard knows the 'Dogs are right on the doorstep of a conference title.
"Being that close to winning a MW championship is a great feeling so knowing that is a possibility is huge. It is something we are all striving for and all want to accomplish so achieving that goal would be special to accomplish with this team and these coaches."
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley"" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateVB
Instagram: FresnoStatevball
Facebook: FresnoStateVB
For Fresno State senior libero Reagan Leonard, she never expected her journey to lead her to Fresno State. A native of Glendale, Ariz., it took a chance recruiting trip in 2016 to open up her eyes to the Central Valley.
With fellow Arizonan Sydney Lostumo committing to the Bulldogs and having a former coach who played at Fresno State, she was somewhat familiar with the program, but needed to see more.
"I came on a recruiting visit with my parents and I did not have high expectations to want to come here, but when I got on campus I was blown away by the facilities and the community and how much they support athletics," Leonard said. "The community really cares about their athletes here and seeing that, I committed a week later."
With a combined 11 juniors & seniors on the team during her freshman season in 2017, the upperclassmen presence was heavy and that can sometimes be intimidating to a young freshman.
"It was scary to jump right into the beast of college athletics, but it was awesome to play as a freshman. I remember my first game and how amazed I was to play," Leonard remembers.
Receiving a lot of help and guidance along the way from the veterans, she was just thankful to be healthy and back on the court after having to undergo ACL surgery following her senior season in high school, "I think about gratitude and how grateful I was to be in position to play such high-level volleyball on a high-level team."
After playing in all 30 matches as a freshman, a new challenge awaited Leonard as a sophomore as the Bulldogs went through a head coaching transition with the addition of Jonathan Winder.
Coming to Fresno State as an assistant coach from Washington, Winder brought a new coaching staff and attitude with him.
"It was definitely new," Leonard said on the transition. "It felt like a whirlwind and it happened very fast."
Going through a coaching change can be hard, but Leonard was determined to make the best of it as her coaches got to know her and she got to know them.
"It has been fun to experience the transition, because I have learned a lot from it and during the course of my four years, I have experienced a lot of change and met a lot of different people. I think I have learned a lot through it and am grateful for it," Leonard said.
The Bulldogs totaled 22 wins and earned a second-place finish in the Mountain West in 2018 which certainly showed the culture Winder and staff was being building was paying off on the court.
"It was fun to experience the new coaching staff and how much they cared about us and how much they pushed us each week."
As the Bulldogs made the postseason for the first time since 2002, Leonard earned All-Mountain West honorable mention honors and broke the single-season record for digs in a season previously set by assistant coach Maggie Eppright in 2015.
While finding success on the court, Leonard was searching for something equally as fulfilling off the court in the classroom.
"I remember being an underclassman and being stressed out about deciding what I wanted to major in and during the transition of coaching, they really helped me find grounding in myself and discover what I loved."
"I was in (assistant coach) Hardy's (Woolridge) office always picking his brain and he read me a quote that it doesn't matter what you want to do when you are older, just do what you want to do now and what you love."
Heeding that advice, she discovered her passion for women's, gender and sexuality studies and decided to make that her major.
"I am completely obsessed with my major and love studying everything my classes offer me. I definitely made the right choice in what I want to major in."
Wanting to pursue that passion even further after her undergraduate work is done, Leonard has set her sights on her next step, "After volleyball, I want to go to graduate school."
With the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the Bulldogs' season to the spring, Leonard is eyeing one final run with the 'Dogs and has high expectations for Fresno State on the court this season.
"At the end of the day, I would love to be a Mountain West champion."
With the 'Dogs having earned a second-place finish in the Mountain West in 2018, its highest conference finish since 2003, Leonard knows the 'Dogs are right on the doorstep of a conference title.
"Being that close to winning a MW championship is a great feeling so knowing that is a possibility is huge. It is something we are all striving for and all want to accomplish so achieving that goal would be special to accomplish with this team and these coaches."
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley"" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateVB
Instagram: FresnoStatevball
Facebook: FresnoStateVB
Players Mentioned
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