Hines signs to play at Rocky Mountain College

On Wednesday, April 22, Malta volleyball standout Rylee Hines, a senior, signed a letter of intent to play collegiately at Rocky Mountain College (RMC) in Billings for the 2023 season.

Hines, a 5-10 setter, is the daughter of Jason and Tasha Hines of Malta.

Hines was already planning on attending RMC this fall as a freshman to study in the school's biology program.

"I emailed the coach and said, hey I am interested in playing volleyball, and she said, sweet! Come to one of our practices."

She went to one of the practices mid-March and was automatically drawn to the environment.

"I just love the environment," Hines said of RMC. "They were all super nice. They welcomed me and the coaching staff there is amazing, along with a beautiful campus."

Hines was a four-year starter for Malta, and helped bring the M-ettes to the 2021 State B Volleyball Tournament in Bozeman. Making the tournament was her favorite memory.

"That whole trip was probably my favorite memory," Hines said. "It was a great experience and I loved every second of it."

In addition to her passing and hitting of the volleyball, Hines had a unique style when approaching the court to serve.

"I hit the ball off of the ground three times, then I toss it back and forth twice, and then I serve," Hines said. "I feel like it just came to me. I started doing it one day at practice, and I just feel like I'm ready. And if I mess it up, I miss the serve, I swear."

As far as Biology being her major at RMC, Hines hopes to use it in Veterinary School for larger animals.

She was asked what it meant to be a Malta M-ette.

"It's been a blessing," Hines said. "I have learned so much being an M-ette. It's really indescribable. It's just been a really good experience and it will help me in the long-run."