From competing against each other in high school to becoming fellow Baylor Bears, Vibe players Yossiana Pressley and Shelly Fanning have been part of each other's volleyball careers for nearly their entire lives. To set the scene ahead of their push for the first ever Pro Volleyball Federation Championship title, let’s dive into the timeline of these two outstanding players and the thoughts they had reminiscing on their careers.
Scene #1: High School Volleyball
Both natives of Cypress, Texas, Pressley and Fanning first met on the court when playing for their high school teams. This was the start of a tremendous career ahead for both players, as they constantly kept gravitating back toward one another.
Pressley: “The crazy part is we got to play against each other in high school because she went to Cy Ranch and I went to Cy Falls. So I knew Shelly around 2013 when I first moved to Texas.”
Scene #2: Baylor Bears
Staying in Texas, Fanning and Pressley were given the opportunity to have two years of overlap in their careers competing at Baylor. Fanning moved to Waco and became a Bear in 2015, having Yossi come just two years later in 2017.
Pressley: “Baylor was my very first offer to play D1 volleyball, so it holds a special place in my heart. Also, Shelly was my host for every one of my visits, making me feel so welcome right away.”
Fanning: “I was a part of Yossi’s recruiting process and remembered telling her “don’t come here if you don’t want to win a championship” and she without hesitation said, “yeah and that’s what we are going to do.” I just knew right as she joined that we would create something special with our time together at Baylor.”
When asked about their favorite memories shared in college, they agreed there were so many to pick from both on and off the court.
Pressley: “The staple memory is when we beat Washington in the Elite Eight to go to the Final Four. I so vividly remember Shelly running up to me and hugging me. We have the most special picture capturing that moment.”
Fanning: “We had put in so much effort to get to that point, so once it came to fruition it just felt like a hug me brother moment.”
Scene #3: Atlanta Vibe
Using her fifth year of eligibility, Pressley finished her final season with the Bears in 2021, capping her outstanding season with a 2021 All-Big 12 First Team nod. Pressley played a short season abroad, then made her way back to the US to compete in the Athletes Unlimited league.
Pressley: “Shelly and I actually crossed paths again playing in Athletes Unlimited, but never on the same side of the net. We were so bummed, but little did we know we were going to be given another opportunity soon after.”
Fanning played her last season with Baylor in 2019, finding a spot on a Puerto Rican professional team right before the pandemic hit. After a few more years of playing abroad, Fanning was compelled to come back to the US to play. Preseason for the Atlanta Vibe came around and the team was still looking to add a few more key pieces to the team. Fanning knew the exact player the team needed, bringing up Pressley’s name to the coaching staff as one of the greatest athletes and most supportive teammates she has ever played with.
Fanning: “It takes so much effort to show up and compete every day and make everyone around you better. Yoss is simply so good at volleyball and is such an athlete that she is able to make so many of her teammates better by all the small tactical things she executes. As her big sister, it is so cool to see her mature throughout her volleyball career to get to this point now.”
Pressley: “I am just so grateful to have someone who supports me in so many facets of my life, from helping me with my wedding planning to helping me clean my room. It really is just such a blessing.”
The overlapping timeline these two players have experienced is a unique circumstance. Having this many commonalities in their volleyball careers has created a loyal bond, strengthening their relationship both on and off the court.
Fanning: “It has been such a blessing to have Yossi as a teammate in this phase of our careers, as the professional environment definitely is a different environment than college. I could speak so highly of Yossi and the overall person she is.”
Pressley: “It really is crazy how everything came full circle and that we get to say we are teammates again.”
Scene #4: Playoffs in Omaha
The dynamic duo are in Omaha with the Vibe this week as the they compete for the inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation Championship. Team chemistry has been and continues to be the core of Vibe’s culture. Watch the Atlanta Vibe take on the Grand Rapids Rise this Wednesday, May 15th at 7 p.m. ET in the Semifinals round. All matches in the tournament will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.