Lani Mason, Killing 'Em With A Smile
Rob Knox
10/14/2022
When Lani Mason enters a room, you know it.
It’s because she’s usually accompanied by her million-watt grin, which is brighter than the twinkling lights in Times Square.
I can’t help but to smile. Getting me to do a straight face or pose in videos and pictures takes me approximate six minutes. I can’t do it.Lani Mason
Lani Mason at 2021 Media Day
The Chester, Va. native has had a lot of reasons to smile this year especially when you consider that two years ago, she had surgery to repair a superior labrum anterior posterior (SLAP) tear. The University of Delaware senior outside hitter has come a long way in a short period of time to blossom into one of the elite performers in Division I volleyball this year. It’s a testament to Mason’s ability to conquer adversity along with her determined spirit, and positive attitude.
However, don’t let Mason’s smile fool you.
An extremely focused competitor driven by personal excellence, Mason’s smile dissolves into a fierce scowl that could freeze boiling water once the match begins.
Lani Mason at 2021 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Semifinals
Words can’t describe how grateful I am for how my parents, coaches and teammates still believed in me after the surgery. Despite the terrible season I had my freshman year, both my mom and dad are always telling me the things that I am capable of. I just want to keep my head and working hard because they kept motivating me.Lani Mason
Fueled by a relentless spirit, the hard-working Mason has produced a fall of glimmering memories. Mason’s radiant individual performances have been complimented by encouraging team efforts, which has Delaware enjoying a nice season. The Blue Hens won nine straight matches from Sept. 9 to Oct. 8.
After a career-best and Delaware program record 38 kills in a win over Charleston, Mason achieved the rare, sweet spot, a pinch-me patch of national attention during a surreal two days in early October. She was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Offensive Player of the Week and GameChanger/AVCA Division I National Player of the Week. She was the first Blue Hen ever to receive the national nod.
Mason leads the nation in kills per set (5.45), second in points per set (5.93), seventh in total kills (316) and 10th in points (344).
From @CAASports Player of the Week ?? GameChanger/@AVCAVolleyball National Division I Player of the Week = the first Blue Hen to ever do it
— Delaware Volleyball (@Delaware_VB) October 4, 2022
Very #BlueHenBuilt of you @laniimason ??????
??: https://t.co/LRruVejh3B pic.twitter.com/EEoo87VHTs
This Blue Hen is making history! ????@laniimason becomes the first ever @Delaware_VB player to earn @AVCAVolleyball National Player of the Week honors after posting 38 kills and 24 digs in a five set win at Charleston.#NCAAWVB pic.twitter.com/Kv8nZ9zUJt
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) October 4, 2022
Amazing, considering where Mason was two years ago.
I could barely lift my arm up from my side, but I thought nothing of it. I remember our end of season meeting with my coaches. I told them that I couldn’t lift my arm and I started laughing. My coaches were like that’s not good. I was like ‘oh.’ I went home and practiced at home at my old club gym. It was still hard to hit and hard to lift my arms, so I just focused on passing.Lani Mason
Lani Mason at practice during the 2020-21 season
Fortunately for Mason, COVID wiped out Delaware’s fall season in 2020. It served as the perfect opportunity to get surgery, recover, rehab, and ultimately return. When Delaware played in the spring of 2021, all Mason could do was cheer on her teammates and offer suggestions.
Her pain came from watching. Following surgery, Mason didn’t return to the court for six months. While it was challenging, Mason understood to achieve anything great, you must experience a lot of pain.
It was so hard and mentally draining. Even though I was able to help my team in other ways, it was hard not to be physically part of that. My trainer Steph Minite helped me a lot with treatment. I was able to vent to her whether I felt good or felt bad. My coaches and parents were always there for me, so they made the process a little better.Lani Mason
Lani Mason
Mason returned with a bang in the fall of 2021. She earned First Team All-CAA honors and was a four-time CAA Offensive Player of the Week. Mason was a rock of consistency as she had eight double-doubles and 16 matches with at least 10 kills, including at least 20 in three of them.
The fruits of her intense training regimen this summer, which included plenty of hitting, film studying, and coaching, has yielded positive results. This season, Mason has three matches of at least 30 kills. She had 31 kills against UMBC and 35 against Northeastern.
We ?? a trio of #BlueHens on the 2021 All-CAA Teams. Congrats ladies!!! ?????? #proUD ??????
— Delaware Volleyball (@Delaware_VB) November 17, 2021
First Team: @laniimason
Second Team: @ezgibasaranlarr & @lauuryynnr
???https://t.co/v5eoqxeVBb pic.twitter.com/rdUA269Sj8
WE LOVE IT HERE!!!!!!! https://t.co/Dkx6Fm2zwV
— Delaware Volleyball (@Delaware_VB) October 2, 2022
I definitely had big goals for myself coming into the season. You know how you set goals and you’re crazy enough to set big goals. It’s crazy when you get there. This season, I always wanted to get 30 kills in a game. I need to get 30 kills. I will get 30 kills. I didn’t expect to do that within four weeks like three times, so that whole thing was crazy. It’s also crazy to see the work you put in and get the results you want and more.Lani Mason
The human relations administration major has been getting results since she started playing volleyball in fourth grade. She got her first kill in fifth grade, and she’s been a forever force.
My cousin Lisa played volleyball in college, and she is the one who introduced me to the sport. When she would come to visit, she would pass the ball with me in the yard. I have a memory of my first kill. I remember just randomly deciding to jump and hit the ball and it scored. I was so shocked, but that moment shifted my lifeLani Mason
Away from the court, Mason likes to relax and talk with her family, hang out with her teammates, and spend some time alone.
Family, faith, and friends form Mason’s foundation. Her dad, Neil, played soccer at VCU, and her mom, LaRhonda, ran track at Virginia State. They keep her grounded and encouraged. Mason also is passionate about following her little brother’s, Niles, basketball career.
Yet, it’s one encounter that demonstrates how Mason’s impact goes beyond the court. It left a lasting impression on Mason as she was reminded in that moment how she connects with and inspires others.
I remember signing autographs after a game and this little girl came up to me, and said oh my god, I am your biggest fan. I was stunned and said to myself, how do you know who I am?Lani Mason
She is no longer a secret because everybody knows Mason, a resilient tower of power with a sparkling smile who is re-writing the Delaware record book one kill at a time.
Rob Knox is an award-winning professional. A member of the Lincoln (Pa.) Hall of Fame, Knox currently serves as the Senior Director of Strategic Communications for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Knox enjoyed a distinguished career as an athletics communicator for Lincoln, Kutztown, Coppin State, Towson, and UNC Greensboro. He also worked at ESPN and for the Delaware County Daily Times. Recently, Knox was honored by the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity award in July 2022. Knox is a graduate of Lincoln University and a past president of the College Sports Communicators, formerly CoSIDA.
