NORTH ROBINSON — For most of their lives, Colonel Crawford twin sisters Rylee and Reagan Ritzhaupt have been virtually inseparable.
That will change when they leave for separate colleges in the fall. One commonality will be that both will continue their volleyball careers — just not the same team.
On Thursday, the pair signed letters of intent to further their careers on the volleyball court — Rylee at Otterbein and Reagan at Heidelberg. Mom and dad, Kendra and Sean Ritzhaupt, wore T-shirts containing both colleges’ logos.
It was a proud moment for their high school coach, Taylor Heiby.
“It’s so exciting. It’s awesome,” Heiby said of the signings. “I was in their shoes a long time ago and it’s just a different feeling for these girls.
“These girls have worked so hard on and off the court,” Heiby added. “If they’re not at a high school sport, they’re either at club volleyball or in our own high school gym doing reps. That is what shows and that’s why they’re going to the next level.”
The siblings were recruited by mostly the same schools, primarily those in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Two things set Otterbein apart from the others for Rylee.
“Their program. When I talked to their coach (16-year veteran Monica Wright), she even started crying talking about their last season and how much she was going to miss their seniors,” Rylee said. “It reminded me a lot of what we built here this year. I knew that’s what I wanted to be part of.”
Otterbein also offered the major Rylee is pursuing, pre-physical therapy. She will be part of their Allied Health Program.
The Cardinals finished 23-6 last year, 8-1 in the OAC, which was good for first place. They also qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament.
Reagan started her high school career a little late — in her junior year — but she proved to be a quick learner, making her opportunity to play collegiately that much sweeter.
“It means a lot,” Reagan said. “I feel like, since I started late, my passion has grown really fast. It’s exciting to see where I can go in skill and ability too.”
Why Heidelberg over Otterbein for Reagan?
“I really liked the Heidelberg campus more than Otterbein,” Reagan said. “(Rylee) liked the Otterbein campus more than Heidelberg.”
But again, academics played a part in the decision. Reagan will be a business major at Heidelberg.
“I’m going to do the Plus-One Advantage Program at Heidelberg and get my MBA there.”
Both volleyball programs will be getting a top hitter from the Northern 10 Athletic Conference. Rylee was second in the league in kills per set. She recorded 345 kills in 86 sets.
Reagan was seventh in the N10 in K/S, recording 299 kills in her 86 sets. The pair helped lead Colonel Crawford to a 19-5 record, 10-4 in the N10, which was good for a second-place tie with Seneca East. The Eagles also won a sectional tournament title.
Since both Otterbein and Heidelberg are in the OAC, the sisters will have to play against each other instead of being teammates, putting mom and dad in a precarious position.
“We’re really excited for that,” Reagan said. “Mom and Dad will wear those shirts again.”
Reagan acknowledged that she would also miss playing with her sister.
“She knows how to calm me down on the court,” Reagan said of Rylee. “Like no one else will really get that. Having my best friend at every practice and game — it’s going to be different without her.”
Heiby saw the positives in the twins deciding to go to separate colleges.
“It’s very different that they’re both going to different schools,” Heiby said. “But I think that’s awesome that they’re both going their own separate ways because you never know where life’s going to take you.”
While both play other sports and are currently part of the very successful Eagles’ track program, both are totally committed to volleyball.
“I knew right after my last game that I was not done and that I wanted to continue to play,” Rylee said. “And it’s something I’ve thought about for a long time, since I started.”
Student Princes coach Jason Miller will get the same type of commitment from Reagan.
“I loved Crawford volleyball, so I feel like I’ll love Heidelberg volleyball, maybe more.
“I like the team sport and the emotions it brings out versus track is so individual,” Reagan added. “I obviously still love (track), but there’s something about volleyball and the team atmosphere.”
Rylee agreed with her sister.
“I just love the atmosphere of a volleyball game,” Rylee said. “Nothing really compares to the friendships you build playing volleyball.”