Freshman outside and opposite hitter Kadyn Dahlke is coming into her own as a volleyball player at St. Mary’s High School.

The 14-year-old was born into a sports family. Her mother and father played sports in college, with her mother running track and field and her father playing basketball. Her brother plays basketball at St. Mary’s and one of her sisters is playing volleyball professionally.

Kadyn started playing volleyball at 9 years old and was inspired by her older sister, Kendra Dahlke.

“She was always so good,” Kadyn said. “I started playing because of her, and I wanted to be just like her. She was someone I really looked up to.”

Kendra played at the University of Arizona and led the Pac-12 in kills per set her senior year in 2018. Now she is playing professionally in Marsala, Italy.

“My sister helps me out a lot,” Kadyn said. “She tells me to keep pushing because I did have a point in life where I just wanted to quit.”

After a tough drama-filled year with her club team two years ago, Kadyn’s mom suggested she take a year off from playing club so she could mentally reset.

Kadyn believes this is one of the best decisions she has made so far in her volleyball career.

“I think taking that year off from club last year really helped me mentally,” Kadyn said. “It made me miss volleyball more and I just wanted to go back. So far this season, I feel confident. I was just in a bad place. [Kendra] has definitely pushed me out of that bump.”

Kadyn dominated in the summer league for St. Mary’s but struggled during the first game of the season. Playing high-level volleyball against a tough team in an unfamiliar gym was something she had never experienced before. Her playing level wasn’t where she wanted it and frustration took over, according to head coach September Lopez.

The frustration she has experienced this season is something Kadyn hopes to work on during her club season.

“She is learning how to grow when playing through frustration because she hasn’t realized that it is okay to make mistakes,” said Lopez.

Though her performance this season hasn’t been what she expected, Kadyn always has a lighthearted attitude.

“Kadyn always brings a laugh to the team,” said teammate and friend Imani Cannon. “She is such an amazing person. You want to see her do as well as she can, and you know that she wants you to do as well as you can. It goes all the way around.”

Even though she has a lighthearted personality, Kadyn is known to be intense and competitive when game time rolls around.

“Her on-court and off-court personalities are totally different,” Lopez said. “On the court, she is so intense. She is that player that if she gets a kill, she is straight face and staring at you.”

Being the only freshman on the team is special to Kadyn. Lopez believes Kadyn has earned her spot and has a lot of potential.

Kadyn is working through her struggles, and Lopez believes she is improving every game. She is only a freshman, but she knows that colleges will be looking at her soon, and she is hoping to get a scholarship.

“She is a special athlete,” Lopez said. “I see her doing great things. I see her being one of the greatest players coming out of St. Mary’s High School.”