For Mercer Island High School senior Kate Holland, volleyball has always been about more than what happens on the court. It’s about community, discipline, resilience and the relationships built along the way.

Kate first picked up volleyball at age 12 when she tried out for her middle school team. She was immediately drawn to the team aspect of the sport.

“Being close to my teammates on and off the court is important to winning games, and I felt that was special,” Kate says.

By her third year of club volleyball, Kate had made the A team and realized she wanted to see how far she could take the sport. Since then, volleyball has become a major part of her life, requiring countless hours of practices, tournaments, travel and strength training.

One of the biggest influences behind that commitment has been her dad.

“He is constantly in the gym, being active and supporting me throughout my career,” Kate says. “He encourages me to go to the gym even when I don’t have the desire to and to build discipline.”

That discipline has become one of the qualities Kate values most in herself as an athlete. She acknowledges that there are days when she doesn’t feel like practicing or lifting weights, but she has learned that consistency matters more than motivation.

“It’s not the easy choice to commit to doing it, but I’m always glad I did it after,” she says.

Kate describes herself on the court as passionate. Whether she is celebrating a point or laughing off a mistake, her love for the game is easy to see. She recently transitioned from playing middle to right side, a change that has allowed her to expand her offensive game and hit from different locations on the court.

The transition didn’t come without challenges. After spending two years on an A team, Kate was later placed on a B team and told she needed to prove how badly she wanted her spot. Rather than allowing the setback to discourage her, she used it as motivation.

“I learned that season that I did want it, and I wanted to prove those coaches wrong,” she says.

One particularly memorable opportunity came after Kate had been cut from a 16s A team as a middle and moved to a 17s B team as a right side. At a local tournament, her new team faced the team she had been cut from.

Kate rose to the occasion, performing especially well as both a blocker and hitter. More importantly, the match showed her that a setback in one position could open the door to growth in another.

Her club coach Patrick also played an important role in helping Kate make that transition.

“He believed in me even when I was hard on myself and really helped me transition into a right side,” she says. “He encouraged me and helped me grow my passion for volleyball.”

At MIHS, Kate has found the sense of community that initially attracted her to volleyball as a middle schooler.

“We are all best friends and spend countless hours together every week,” she says. “I see my teammates on and off the court, which brings us closer together than any team I’ve been on before.”

One of her favorite MIHS memories has little to do with wins or statistics. During her junior year, the team held a sleepover where they reminisced and, as Kate remembers it, laughed for what felt like the entire night.

That closeness translates to the court. Kate says one of the defining characteristics of this year’s team is its energy.

“We constantly celebrate every good touch, kill, block and dig,” she says.

For her final season at Mercer Island, Kate has set a specific individual goal: consistently maintaining a .300 hitting percentage. But volleyball has also taught her how to balance ambitious athletic goals with life outside the gym. She credits the MIHS program with helping her learn to pursue academic success while continuing to push herself athletically.

That balance will become even more important next year when Kate heads to Chapman University in California to continue her volleyball career.

Kate approached the college search knowing what she wanted: a well-funded, small- to medium-sized school where she could develop relationships with professors, along with the opportunity to live in California near both the mountains and the beach.

The recruiting process involved plenty of emails, calls with coaches and college visits. When Kate visited Chapman, met the coach and toured the athletic facilities, something clicked.

“I realized that was the college for me,” she says. “I knew if I got an offer for Chapman, I would take it.”

When that offer eventually arrived, Kate felt both excitement and relief. She committed over the summer and says she feels confident in her decision and ready for the next chapter.

At Chapman, she is most excited to make new friends, build lasting relationships and continue developing as an athlete. Academically, Kate hopes to study marketing and eventually start a business of her own. One of her biggest goals entering college is to continue improving her time-management skills so she can succeed both on and off the court.

Outside volleyball, Kate enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, traveling, skiing and soaking up sunny days at the beach.

After years of club teams, position changes, difficult cuts, memorable matches and ultimately a college commitment, Kate has learned that no two athletes’ paths look exactly the same. It’s a lesson she hopes younger athletes remember as they pursue their own goals.

“Don’t compare yourself to other people and their journeys,” Kate says. “Everybody has different opportunities, and comparing yourself to others will not help you grow as a person and as an athlete. Focus more on your own accomplishments and goals than what others have done.”

For Kate, that mindset has taken her from a 12-year-old discovering volleyball for the first time to an MIHS senior preparing to compete at the collegiate level — with plenty more still ahead.