Kamaron Holloway is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication Student assigned to cover Scottsdale Christian Academy for AZPreps365.com

SCOTTSDALE -- When Kaya Olafson steps onto any court, she instills a confidence that exudes from the Scottdale Christian girls volleyball team before the first serve of any game.

The junior outside hitter has already cemented herself as a dominant force at the net and a leader for her team. But this level of play is not new; Kaya has been this way from an early age.

“We wanted all of our children to be involved with sports and to have fun,” Kaya’s father, Mark Olafson, said. “If you're going to play, you also want to be pretty good at it. We'd build obstacle courses in the garage so the kids could work on speed and agility — ladder drills, quick feet, and all kinds of other exercises.

Kaya grew up competing with her two brothers, Kody and Kyle, often turning everyday play into a contest.

“Even with those things in the garage, it was always so quick for her versus our boys," Mark said. "Everything she did, every sport she played, she was always one of the best ones.” 

Up to this point in Kaya’s career she has accumulated 1,125 kills, an impressive feat for a junior. She leads her team with 347 kills this season, which is fourth best in the 2A division, 15th best in her position group, and 16th best in the state of Arizona.

As dominant as she is on the volleyball court, it’s unsurprising she's garnered attention from colleges across the country. However, the twist is that despite all the interest, Kaya has decided at the moment not to pursue a collegiate volleyball career.

“It's just so time-consuming and my body breaks down really easily,” Kaya said. “I would always get sick after my tournaments, and then my knee was injured, which also scared me.”

Kaya missed significant time earlier this year due to a torn meniscus. The road to recovery was a tough pill to swallow for her family.

“Oh, it was just an absolute bummer having to sit there and watch your kid not be able to do anything for five to six months,” Mark said. “It makes you wonder if they're ever going to be the same again? It wasn’t just a simple meniscus tear, either. They actually had to put the meniscus back in and attach it to the root of the knee. They drilled two holes and stitched it back in to pull it tight, so it was just tough.” 

“She was living such an active lifestyle,” Kaya’s mother, Monica Olafson, said. “Then suddenly you just can’t do anything. It delayed her getting her driver’s license, going on her mission trip. I mean, she missed out on a lot.”

The months away from competition gave Kaya something she hasn’t had in years: time to reflect. The injury forced her to slow down, but it also helped her rediscover why she loved sports in the first place and focus on her faith.

“My faith was my main center through all of it, which helped me get through,” Kaya said. “Even when I couldn’t play, I still loved watching the game. I’d watch the boys’ team too, because they were just faster and played at such a high level. I wanted to keep learning and picking up new skills, even while I was on the sideline.”

Kaya realized she didn’t need to chase a college scholarship or a national spotlight to find fulfillment. Instead, she's focused on enjoying her final seasons of high school volleyball freely with her teammates, having fun, and appreciating the game that has always been such a big part of her life.

“For now, it just doesn’t feel right playing, but I still want it just as bad because I don’t play club anymore,” Kaya said. “I know that I only have a certain amount of time left, so everything matters to me. 

“I've been playing for so long that it still brings me joy, especially playing for school rather than club.”

For her parents, hearing Kaya might not want to continue volleyball in college was bittersweet. They understand her reasoning, but it's still hard to imagine her stepping away from something that's been such a big part of her life.

“It is hard to hear for sure. She worked so hard to get here,” Monica said. “It's hard to watch; maybe it's a waste of talent -- I don't know.

“But everyone has their own path, and we don’t want to force her to do something that makes her resent us."

Although the door isn’t completely closed on playing volleyball in college, Kaya’s focus for now is on finishing the season strong as she and her teammates make a push for a state championship.

Once the season wraps up, she’s looking forward to mixing things up—hitting the sand for beach volleyball and running track in the spring, two sports she continues to enjoy purely for the love of the game.