Get to know West Ottawa HS volleyball player Raegan Lantz
HOLLAND, Mich. — “Uh-oh!” Members of the West Ottawa student section knew what was coming when they saw Jr. Chelsea Overbeek provide the perfect set.
Sr. Raegan Lantz sprung upward and cocked her right arm back at a ridiculous angle. In an instant, she rocketed the ball on a sharp angle toward the floor on the opposite side of the net. Point for the Panthers.
Lantz has been a force on the volleyball court since she was a freshman. She is a 2nd year All-State player who recently decided to continue her volleyball career at Miami University, a Division I college in Oxford, Ohio. She has had a very successful high school campaign, racking up more than 1,000 kills as a member of the varsity team—and that’s just one of many accolades she has earned during her four years at West Ottawa. Although her offensive ability is impressive, her defense and ability to play on the back line is equally amazing. She is a natural outside hitter who has greatly diversified her game.
Along with playing at West Ottawa, Lantz also plays at Michigan Volleyball Academy, a top-tier program based in Grand Rapids. She credits her coaches and her parents for helping her get where she is, and she credits local trainer Tim Hoesch for helping her improve as an athlete. “My coaches have done a ton for me skills-wise, but Tim helped me specifically with my jumping and conditioning,” Lantz said.
Even with all the coaching and training, Lantz credits God for her success. The Lantz family attends Beechwood Church, where Raegan’s father, Dave, is the preacher. She said, “God is a huge part of who I am and my life in and out of sports. My faith has helped me remember what’s important and who I play for. It’s very easy to get lost in the excitement of it all, but always having God as my foundation, I am able to keep my head level and strive to be the best me and the best child of God I can be.”
Lantz has made a name for herself as one of the best volleyball players in all of Michigan. She picked up many other Division I offers before making her final decision to attend Miami University. Excited and looking forward to the next four years, she said, “I have a lot of big goals for myself. My dream is to become an All-American. I also want to continue to develop as a teammate and do everything I can to help my team succeed. Achieving academically is important to me, too. One of the reasons I chose Miami was because of the quality of their business school, and I look forward to figuring out what I want to do with life after volleyball as well.”
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