Tiffany Rice Lets Her Game Do the Talking

Senior Tiffany Rice leads by example, using her physical skills in volleyball to uplift the confidence of her College of Wooster teammates on the court. She is by no means the most vocal person on the court, leaving that to fellow captains Mary Kate Fowkes and Erin Schaffner, but finds a way to talk to her teammates through her game. The team has grown and thrived in the process, as the Scots' 13-2 start to 2005 has them looking to challenge for its first North Coast Athletic Conference title in over 20 years.

Rice has always had a quiet way about her, which made her a steal when Wooster landed her in the recruiting process almost four years ago.

When it came time to choose a college to attend, she had several in mind, including Capital University, John Carroll University, Walsh University, and Wooster. Playing volleyball in a small-college setting had been her No. 1 priority, and luckily for the Scots, Wooster fit the bill.

œI was looking for a coach and a team that felt right and I knew there was room to grow at Wooster,” said Rice. œEveryone was really honest about their likes and dislikes, and they were also having fun.”

Sixth-year head coach Terri Mason knew she had a special player when Rice decided to come to Wooster.

œShe was a sleeper out of high school,” commented Mason. œShe always wanted the ball and was also very physical and quick.”

At Canton McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio, Rice had played middle, and she continued in that role as a first-year with the Scots. She put together quite an impressive season on paper, totaling 404 kills and a .317 attack percentage in addition to averaging 2.99 kills per game, but the position was very demanding and both she and Mason decided she would be better utilized as an outside hitter.

So, Rice made the transition as a sophomore and blossomed, quickly putting herself on pace to break several school records. But, unfortunately for her and the Scots, she contracted mononucleosis while attending a funeral in Tennessee around mid-season and ended up missing most of the last three weeks. During that time, the Scots, who were at 13-11 before she went down, lost seven of the last 11 matches to fall below .500 (17-18) on the year.

That second year was a big growing up year for Rice. Her illness prevented her from doing the one thing she came to college for, but she quickly realized there's a lot more to life than just volleyball. However, she did recover enough by the second semester to take part in the spring season, although both she and Mason noticed her strength wasn't fully back yet.

In 2004, there were no seniors on the team so it was up to Rice and Fowkes to lead the way. No one really considered the Scots as top contenders for the NCAC title, as the squad was selected fifth in the preseason poll, but Rice knew better.

œI knew were going to be good, but no one else did. We just went out and had fun,” said Rice.

If she meant posting the best overall record at Wooster in 20 years and finishing third overall in the league standings (6-2), then the Scots had a blast. The team finished 21-9 overall, the best mark since the 1984 season (41-7), and lost only to Hiram College (2-3) and Wittenberg University (0-3) during the conference regular season. Highlighting that run was a dramatic four-game win at Denison University, a team that had beaten the Scots four times the previous year.

Individually, Rice was at the top of her game, pacing the NCAC with 4.33 kills per game in addition to setting career highs in total kills (450), attempts (1067), and attack percentage (.344). For her efforts, she was recognized as one of the top players in the league by being named to the All-NCAC First Team, the first Scot to earn the honor in five years.

This past summer, Rice worked hard on her skills to prepare for what she knew was going to be a big year for the team. The Scots are playing one of, if not the most, difficult schedule in team history and were picked to finish third in the NCAC, receiving two first-place votes in the process.

œWe're shooting for a win every game, but taking things one game at a time,” said Rice. œWe have the most challenging schedule yet, and we know it. The team knows what we did last year and we're looking to build off it.”

Translation: Wooster has dominated the opposition so far this season, winning 13 of 15 matches and claiming two tournament championships at Capital and Westminster (Pa.). What makes the season even sweeter was a 3-1 victory over Hiram, the NCAC preseason No. 2, in the championship match of the Capital Invitational to open the year.

Rice is well on her way to more postseason honors and records this fall as the former Bulldog is averaging career-bests of 4.76 kills per game and a .365 hitting percentage. Whenever a game is on the line, the team always turns to its quiet leader.

œShe's our closer,” said Mason. œYou want the ball in her hands when you need points.”

Rice already became the school's all-time leader in kills earlier this season, and now has 1,466 for her career. But, according to her, the most important thing is the team, not the numbers.

œI've never really been a stat person,” said Rice. œThe record really doesn't mean much. If it takes awhile to get, then the team is doing well and that is better.”

With Rice on the court, the Scots have flourished, winning 68 of 108 matches and posting two 20-win seasons, with another well on the way. More importantly, the team attitude has changed. The Scots come out ready to take on anyone that walks onto the court and believe they will win.

œThe energy from the team is stronger than ever before and more consistent throughout each match,” said Rice. œOur successes have been a good learning experience and now we know we can do it.”

œTiffany is a great model and teacher,” commented Mason. œHer priority is to give it everything she's got - both in season and out. I'm really going to miss her.”

What's in store for Rice is a career inspiring and motivating young children in the classroom as she intends to become an elementary school teacher. She is on track to graduate from Wooster in the spring of 2006 with a degree in sociology and then will complete her teaching requirements next fall, likely in her hometown of Canton.

By Corey Jewart