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Walters State volleyball added another local product as West’s Reese Heskett announced that she will be continuing her academic and athletic career with the Lady Senators.

“I am so beyond excited, especially with just the coaches and the team from what I’ve met already at the open gym. It’s just so inviting and open, and I’m just super excited to keep playing volleyball. It’s what I love.”

Heskett joins a Walters State program that has enjoyed plenty of national success while giving her the chance to stay close to home.

“I’m not in it for my personal game,” Heskett said. “I’m in it for my teammates and my coaches and improving the program as a whole. So, just anything I can do to up the program and also learn anything I can, just be there for the fun. I’m really there just because I love volleyball, and I think they’re such an amazing program, obviously, for the success they’ve had. I’m just excited to join.”

As a Lady Senator, Heskett hopes to forge the same tight bond that she found as a Lady Trojan.

Heskett lost her father, Michael, in 2025, and the team rallied around her in support.

“I have had a really hard year, so just being around all those girls and my coaches, they have really hugged me so tight throughout what I’ve gone through this year, and I really don’t think I could have done it without them,” Heskett said. “I’m just gonna miss the girls and the practice, the laughs. I’m just gonna miss all of them. They’re my best friends, and just being here and being around the environment with them has made my life so much better.”

In honor of her father, the team wore “Heskett Strong” on the back of their t-shirts. On the court, they sported orange laces and orange ribbons on their shoes to honor Michael and support the Heskett family.

“Everyone really helped me out with that a lot,” Heskett said. “And I do have to shout out my best friend, Eden. She literally dried my tears every time. She cheered me up. And my coaches, seriously, were like the best support system I could ever have. I would go to them whenever I had any problems, and they’d come to me. I love my coaches, and I love my girls for rallying around that. And I just love that they’ve all embraced what’s happened to me this year and not avoided it. And I know my dad would be proud, so I’m really excited for that.”

Heskett will join a new family at Walters State that includes several familiar faces, including former West High teammates and East High rivals.

“I’m just excited to have another family of girls all together,” Heskett said. I’m just excited to make new friends and put (old rivalries) behind us and become one team., I’m just happy that I can add to the program with them as a team.”

As she prepares for the next level, Heskett is focused on continuing to grow both mentally and physically.

“I’m just looking to learn to be more mentally strong and more endurance in myself and to be a better team player, acknowledging who’s great and who’s good and just supporting them, no matter if that’s on the court or off the court.”