Rhiley Bryson describes herself as “boney.” Not having much cushion when hitting the hardwood floor means she has plenty of battle wounds from diving for balls while playing volleyball.
While her knees have held up fairly well aside from the occasion floor burn, Bryson has multiple scars on her hips.
As a libero for three years on varsity for Franklin, she sacrificed her body countless times despite knowing it would probably hurt.
“But when you know you can get the ball, you get over it,” Bryson said. “You’re like, ‘I can’t let this ball drop. It’s not hitting the floor.’”
Bryson earned all-conference honors the past two seasons while playing for coach Bekah Brooks.
Even though Bryson is smaller than most of her peers, Brooks said she could’ve played her all the way around the floor rather than just libero. However, she was such a tremendous passer that it was a natural fit.
“Passing was her skill. She was amazing at it,” Brooks said. “She could track any ball at any speed and get a perfect platform. It makes everything else a lot easier when you have a really, really good pass. She made us look good for many years in passing.”
Bryson will put those skills to the test at the next level. She’ll play for Kentucky State University after getting recruited by the Division II school several months ago.
Close friend and teammate Taylor Carlton said some of her favorite memories of playing with Bryson include her going all out after a shanked pass or dig and sacrificing her body by running into the bleachers.
“On the court Rhiley is a go-getter, encourager, someone who loves to push her teammates and herself,” Carlton said. “Off the court she is an amazing leader who pushes her friends to be a better person. She loves to help others when they want extra time in the gym and will always make time for them.”
Bryson used an app called FieldLevel, recommended to her by a former travel ball coach, which helped her get noticed.
Kentucky State coach DiShondra Goree contacted Bryson and set up an official visit with other recruits during a three-day weekend in early December.
Bryson went to Frankfort, Kentucky, with her mother, Tracie Thomas. As someone who is shy, Bryson was uncomfortable at first. But eating dinner the first night with some players on the Kentucky State team helped her relax.
The second night of the visit featured attending a basketball game. During timeouts, fraternity and sorority members danced, which cracked Bryson up.
“I had so much fun. The vibes there were great. Everybody was laughing and happy,” she said.
“I absolutely loved how everybody there is so nice. Everybody is always happy there.”
The recruits practiced with Kentucky State players on final day of the visit, which culminated with Goree meeting with each one to discuss offers.
Bryson received an offer, but she didn’t take it right away.
“It took me a little while to decide,” she said. “I’ve never had an offer before. I’ve talked to other colleges, but I’d never really had an offer before so I was like, ‘Should I take it? Should I wait for another one?’
“I looked at it like if I wasn’t playing volleyball there, would I still want to go to the college? It all came down to that, and I would love to go to that college.”
A couple weeks following her visit, Bryson informed Goree she was ready to play for the Thoroughbreds.
“She’s super nice and she’s always super energetic,” Bryson said of Goree. “She was so excited. It made me so pumped and ready to go to college.”
Bryson decided her sophomore year she wanted to pursue playing volleyball in college. She learned a lot about the process of selecting a college while attending visits with her older sister, Haeli, who joined Division I Tennessee Tech for softball.
“When she was looking for colleges, it helped me realize what kind of college I wanted to go to and what I’m comfortable with,” Bryson said.
Like her sister, Rhiley also played softball for many years. She gradually began to dislike playing softball, which has never happened with volleyball.
“I really enjoy the sport …and making new friends on my team,” she said. “Our high school team, I love everybody on that team. It’s been so much fun. I’m so sad that it’s my senior year, but I’m ready for the next step.”
Two of the most memorable moments from playing for the Panthers were two of her final games: senior night and the second round of the state playoffs.
Senior night stuck out because of the fun and the unexpected emotions.
“Most of the seniors, we don’t cry,” she said. “But every single one of us cried that night.”
The playoff game at Forbush was memorable for a different reason. The Panthers lost 3-2, including 15-13 in the final set, and Bryson was upset because she didn’t play well and felt like she let the entire team down.
“In the end we all came together,” she said. “We were like, ‘We love each other.’ It just made me feel so much better. I felt so bad, because I wanted to do so good and I felt so good about that game, but it was just not my game.”
FHS athletic director Blair King called Bryson “a quiet force.”
“Much like her sister before her, miles and miles of talent and potential,” King said. “Absolutely a fantastic student-athlete. Kentucky State is very lucky to have her.”
Bryson tallied 535 digs this season and finished with 1,344 for her three-year career. It’s not a statistic that she’s most proud of, but the attitude the Panthers took to the floor.
“We’re all one big family, we all love each other so much,” Bryson said. “And how humble we are. As far as I know, we don’t brag about much, the team. I really loved that, that we weren’t cocky like some teams are because that just drives me crazy.”
Bryson has debated and explored pursuing a variety of degrees. Being a crime scene investigator interested her – until she discovered she would have to major in chemistry.
“I don’t like chemistry that much, so it’s a no-go for me,” she said. “I think nursing is the best choice for me. I love medical stuff.”
Bryson thanked volleyball coaches Bekah Brooks and Cindy Christie; former volleyball coach Anna Shields; her travel ball coaches; her mother; and her sister.
“Thank you to everybody that’s helped me get to where I am,” Bryson said. “Everybody who has helped me through this whole recruiting process and just made it so much easier for me.”