Douglas High seniors Marin Collins, left, and Riley Mello sign their respective Letters of Intent to play volleyball in college. Collins will be heading to Evergreen State College while Mello will play at Northwest University. Both schools play in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
Marin Collins and Riley Mello both said they’ll remain each other’s best friends after they graduate from Douglas High School.
The only caveat will be when they run into each other twice a year in Cascade Collegiate Conference play.
Wednesday afternoon in the Douglas High commons, the duo signed their respective Letters of Intent to play college volleyball.
Mello penned her commitment to Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., while Collins will compete at Evergreen State College in Olympia.
The two programs are just over an hour apart on opposite side of Seattle.
“We’re going to be best friends before. Then when we’re playing we’re not going to be friends and then we will be best friends again,” Collins said.
Mello isn’t quite as convinced they’ll fully be able to embrace their roles as on-court foes, but is excited to still have a fellow teammate in her life.
“It’s going to be fun that she’s still going to be in my life,” said Mello. “She said, ‘friends before, enemies during and friends after,’ but we will see how that goes.”
This past season, the two programs were evenly matched, splitting their two meetings with each school winning on the road in five sets.
Collins finds the Geoducks
A three-year varsity member, Collins held down the middle for the Tigers and led the team in blocks (98 in her career) as soon as she hit the varsity scene.
The two-time all-region selection said collegiate volleyball has always been on her mind.
“It’s been my dream since I started playing. It’s super exciting to me and being able to help my parents pay for my college is super important to me,” said Collins.
The outgoing Tiger feels as though her tenacity to improve is one of her strongest traits as a player.
“Probably my mental game. Even if I’m off the court, I’m watching, I’m engaged and I’m always trying to learn,” Collins said.
Douglas head coach Suzi Townsell noticed her work ethic instantly.
“Every time she comes to practice she is always trying to raise her level. She wants to learn,” said Townsell. “As a sophomore, she came and worked her butt off. … You don’t find (players) a lot like that.”
Collins also leaves with 259 career kills for Douglas.
Mello links up with the Eagles
A multi-sport athlete in her time at Douglas High, Mello said she knew she wanted to play collegiate volleyball when she picked up the sport.
“It was actually freshman year when I did club … practicing every day and going to fun places. I knew I wanted to continue this sport,” Mello said.
Over her time in high school, Mello picked up two all-region awards in volleyball along with playing three years of varsity basketball – losing her junior season to COVID cancellations – where she was also awarded multiple second team all-region honors as a sophomore and senior.
Under Townsell, Mello tallied 390 kills and led the teams in aces with 66 while picking up the second most digs (184) as a senior.
“She will be coachable, she’s powerful. She has a great serve and her IQ has grown since her freshman year,” said Townsell. “Her athletic ability is out of this world.”
Along with athletic ability, Mello thinks her communication and being able to held keep the team level-headed are added strong suits.
“It’s just exciting that I can continue playing the sport I love with good people and a good coach too,” said Mello. “It’s also a Christian university and a smaller one. I also walked the campus and loved the campus.”
Once on campus, Collins plans to double major in occupational therapy and ceramics.
Mello will be majoring in education in hopes of being a kindergarten teacher.
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