The Candor

Issue date: 9/29/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Marcus Pass Kayla Heyden

Eat, Sleep and Volleyball. These three words have been on repeat in Junior volleyball player Kayla Leyden's head since she was 9-years old.

It all started back in the town of Elgin when she was in fifth Grade. After being surrounded by her best friends and some fierce competition, Leyden knew that she wanted to play volleyball.

Sports have always been a passion of Leyden's because of her competitive nature. She has been on many teams for a number of sports. She's played basketball, softball, tennis, swimming, dance and even tried her luck at bowling, but volleyball seemed to be the best fit for Kayla.

"Volleyball really had me hooked because of its fast pace and necessary teamwork," Leyden said.

"There's no such thing as a three point shot or a free throw as there is in basketball. It's a game of mistakes and corrections of those mistakes. And there is no way to take blame or to give it because every teammate is involved."

After playing four years of varsity volleyball at St. Edwards Central Catholic High School in Elgin, Leyden remembers going to the state tournament her sophomore year, which was held at Illinois State University.

She mentioned that she will never forget the adrenaline rush that she felt walking into the gym. Leyden decided that she didn't want that feeling to go away after graduating high school, so she wanted to continue pursuing her passion for volleyball at Benedictine.

Not only is the level of competition a huge jump, but every athlete at the Division III level is there for the love of the game.

The 5'6" junior shows off all of her hard work and dedication from the left side of the court as an outside hitter. She was voted the Female Athlete of the Year for Benedictine University this past spring and was also an Honorable Mention for the All-American team.

"Being announced BU's Female Athlete of the Year was a huge honor for me," Leyden stated. "It made me realize that big things are possible when you work hard and dedicate yourself to your team and its success."

Last season, the BU volleyball team beat North Central at the Eagle Classic tournament on Halloween. Leyden expressed this as her favorite college volleyball memory thus far. She said everyone had played so well and the energy the team had was the strongest she's ever witnessed.

Kayla is majoring in English Literature and is getting a minor in Secondary Education. She wants to teach high school English and possibly coach volleyball at that level as well. The possibility of becoming a college professor has also crossed her mind. She may pursue that dream by taking classes over the summer.

"After graduating, I hope to pass those fantastic feelings on to the next generation, maybe even here at Benedictine," explained Leyden. "I want to coach and teach kids how to find passion for competition and success. Being on a team teaches so much and I always want to be a part of that."

The next home game for the Eagles is tonight at 7 p.m. against Concordia University Chicago at the Sports Complex.

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