Kaiya was another all tourney selection from the tournament who stood out with her exceptional play at the net. Kaiya average almost 2.5 kills a set and was the go to offensive weapon for the Eagles during pool play. She hit an astonishing .400 throughout pool play and was very powerful with her swings, but also showed poise and vision by hitting open spots on the floor when the dfense started to adjust to her.

Not only did she do well with her offense game, she was also a complete 6 rotation outside with her defense and most impressively her serve receive. Throughout the 6 matches she played, and over 76 receptions in serve receive she only had 1 error. She continually helped keep her offense in system even when she wasn’t a part of it. Her passing, offense, and defense were all exceptional throughout the tournament helping lead the Eagles to the championship match.

Kaiya was a big reason that the Eagles were in the Championship match for this tournament and her all around game made her an easy standout player for the Rise N Roar. We look forward to see Kaiya continue these standout performances as the playoffs approach.

What are you looking forward to most this season? 

I’m most excited for the opportunity to be a leader on a team with such a story tradition of excellence and to continue the proud tradition that OConnor volleyball has established. 

What is special about this group of players? 

Definitely everyone’s connection on and off the court. Everyone loves being around each-other and I think it shows in how we play. Unlike some teams that may have a powerhouse player who they live and die by, I think another special thing about our group is that we have a solid group of 6 players and a very deep bench. This makes practices so fun because everyday it is so competitive on both sides of the net and everyone is getting better every time we play against each other. 

Any hurdles you are trying to overcome as a team or individual as this season starts? 

I think when you play for a program that has had a lot of success in the past, like Oconnor has, it is easy to get ahead of yourself with expectations, when in reality you just have to focus on competing everyday and winning one game at a time. 

What would you tell your freshman self right now if you could talk to her? 

I would tell my freshman self to trust the process and every set back can serve a purpose if you work through it and allow it to. Sometimes in the moment you don’t think it is helping you but it is only making you a better person and player. I would also tell her to enjoy the process because it goes so quick and you have to soak it all in while you can. 

What kind of legacy are you trying to leave in your program? 

 It would be an awesome honor if people remembered my legacy on the program as someone who contributed to having an uplifting, fun, and hardworking culture every day, whether it’s in practice or competition.  By doing this, I’m hoping it can help us compete for a state championship!