For Isla Little Isla Little 5'3" | DS/L Basha | 2027 State AZ at Basha, the legacy she hopes to leave behind has nothing to do with wins, statistics, or awards. As she enters her senior season, she wants her impact to be felt through the culture she helped create and the way she made the people around her feel.

“I want to leave a lasting impact by creating a positive and supportive culture where everyone feels encouraged to grow and succeed,” Little said. “It’s about building strong relationships, teaching resilience, and inspiring others to believe in themselves.” To Little, being a captain also means embracing the parts of leadership that people don’t always see. Whether it’s checking on a teammate who is struggling or helping resolve small disagreements before they grow, she understands that some of a captain’s most important work happens behind the scenes.

She especially hopes the younger players in the program learn from the example this senior class sets. Little wants them to see what it looks like to work hard, stay dedicated, handle both success and failure, and continue being a great teammate through it all. Most importantly, she wants them to remember that one mistake will never define them as a player.

And when it comes to the message she hopes stays with the next generation, Little brings it back to something simple: don’t lose the joy of playing. “Just have fun and be confident, and don’t let anyone take their joy and happiness away from the sport they love,” she said. “Coming to practice every day is a blessing, not a chore, because there is someone out there that wishes to be in your position.”

For Little, leaving a legacy means walking away knowing she gave her best every day—and leaving the program a little better than she found it.

Isla had a great season and that is both for school and club to this point. For school season she played at Basha where she finished top 15 in 6A in digs with 387. The Bears will look for her to continue being that rock for them next season as she heads into her senior year. 

When you watch Isla play you see an explosive, athletic libero with excellent range and court coverage. She shows quick-twitch movement and elite first-step acceleration, which allows her to get a ton of touches on the ball. Isla consistently reads hitters well and reacts with confidence (seems like she knows where the ball is going), making difficult defensive plays look routine. She is comfortable defending high-velocity swings and handling tough serves. Anything that is hard driven seems like she gets a clean touch on the ball and puts her team in system. 

Isla also is the definition of a ball hog (every coach loves their libero to be this) and will touch a ball almost every single play. She has a very high court IQ and plays with a lot of passion and shows great leadership as a libero. She is someone who is a high-energy competitor who elevated the tempo of the backcourt. She is a clear college-level libero with the tools to impact early when she makes her decision to play at the next level.

Isla is making a name for herself in the 6A conference, currently ranked #10 in digs with 172 on the season. She’s also been a key playmaker, racking up 39 assists and keeping her team in rhythm even when out of system. What truly separates Isla as a libero is her sharp court awareness and strong communication — both vital to her team’s defensive success.

Earlier this month, Isla was instrumental in her team’s 4-set win over Red Mountain, locking down the back row with 17 digs. She’s consistently hit double-digit digs throughout the season, proving she’s not just consistent — she’s clutch.

With performances like these, there’s no doubt Isla will continue to be a defensive force as the season heats up.