Every month, we’ll be celebrating five junior athletes and one pro athlete who embody the Whole Athlete Training monthly theme.
For December, our monthly theme was motivation and goals. These athletes are being recognized for fostering what lights them up, investing in recovery, and committing to the process even when it's challenging.Let’s meet this month’s standout athletes!
Caroline Onderak - Madtown Volleyball
Nominated by Courtney Gamer, Madtown Juniors Select & Regional Coordinator and Coach
Caroline is the ultimate go-getter. This will be my second season coaching her and it's been enjoyable watching her progress her knowledge of the game and skill over the past year. She is a high-energy, passionate, and determined athlete who never backs down from a new opportunity or challenge. She fills gaps when needed and simply just wants to be on the court. She walked into this season and said "put me anywhere, I just want to play."
In her LOVB journal, she listed several goals for this season including: always bringing 110%, wanting to work on a more powerful swing, working on digging so she can be a 6-rotation player, being a team leader + positive teammate, never hit negative - always find a way to score and use her toolbox, become a heavy hitter and aggressive defender. Long term, she has goals of playing at the collegiate level and understands that the work she's putting in now will help her to get there.
On the court, she is a strong role-model for her teammates. We can always count on Care to keep drills efficient and high pace. She does a great job at challenging her teammates to be better - what we term 'cooperative competitiveness'. She motivates others through consistent praise and communication. Walking into practice, she is always alert and ready to absorb the day's smaller goals/tasks that we're working on. Care is very analytical and thrives off of very specific feedback to help her adjust her performance to meet goals. She regularly asks questions to ensure she's understanding drill/game concepts and meeting our expectations.
She is grateful for the opportunities that have come her way, including being able to play club volleyball and has shown appreciation to her coaches for the opportunities and time afforded to her.
Erika Sayer - Colorado Juniors
Nominated by Sherri Hawkins, Colorado Juniors Coach
Part of what has motivated Erika is that she was told early on that she was "too small to play anywhere in the Power 5 conferences." I have worked with Erika for about 6 years now. The first time she got invited to the NTDP at age 15, she was put in a group with older players and was a little nervous about keeping up with them. She immediately came to me to help her get ready. When she got to camp, she was noticed quickly by those older players and coaches who could not believe she was as young as she was. Erika then started to realize that she will have a future in volleyball at a very high level.
After tournaments, and even during, she would come ask me to evaluate her videos to give her feedback. Since then, she has committed and now signed to play volleyball at Stanford. Erika has taken 8 AP courses to show she is ready academically for Stanford and is continuing to ask me for guidance and feedback for her volleyball training. Erika has hopes of someday making it on the National Team and I think her drive and talent will get her there!
Jordan Davenport - Chi City
Nominated by Jamie Hoscheit, Chi City Director
Kai stood out in the gym as a consistent example of what it means to be a great teammate during one of the most stressful times for athletes, team evaluations! Almost every coach recognized her for her unwavering energy, generosity, and dedication. Her work ethic remained strong no matter what team or court she was on, inspiring those around her.
In addition to her efforts during practice, Kai went above and beyond by actively volunteering and participating in every WAT session and contributing to shout-outs. Her commitment to growth, positivity, and team spirit truly sets her apart.
Madison Wolf - Silver Beach
Nominated by Madison Fitzsimmons, Silver Beach Club Director
Maddy is a remarkable example of a disciplined and driven student-athlete. At just 16-17 years old, she has already laid a strong foundation for her future, excelling in demanding college prep courses while dedicating herself to year-round beach volleyball practices. Her commitment to her education is evident in her ambition to attend either the Navy or Army for her undergraduate studies, potentially competing on their club beach volleyball teams before advancing to medical school.
Maddy’s proactive approach to balancing her rigorous academic and athletic commitments is a testament to her maturity. She consistently evaluates her mental and academic load, communicating weekly to ensure she maintains her high standards in both areas. When necessary, she makes the tough but wise decision to prioritize academics, embodying the essence of a true student-athlete.
Mikayla Gray - Roots
Nominated by Cara Stubbs, Roots Coach
I am honored to nominate Mikayla Gray for the Roots LOVB Junior Athlete of the Month. Mikayla is a highly motivated and goal-oriented individual who exemplifies dedication, discipline, and perseverance both on and off the volleyball court.
As a standout athlete, Mikayla brings passion, skill, and leadership to both her high school and club teams. Her commitment to improving her craft is truly inspiring, and it has been a joy to witness her growth over the years as a player at Roots. Since joining Roots in the 2020 season, she has earned numerous MVP awards and high school teammate accolades while consistently serving as the floor captain each season.
At Chaparral High School, Mikayla has been recognized at the district level with several honors, including Newcomer of the Year (2022), First Team All-District and Academic All-District (2022–2024), Utility Player of the Year (2023), and District 16-5A MVP Player of the Year (2024). These accomplishments were achieved while maintaining an impressive 4.0 GPA.
As a student, Mikayla’s dedication in the classroom has opened many doors for her. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the College Board National Recognition Program, and the Exchange Club’s Youth of the Semester. Her academic dedication will continue as she transitions to being a student-athlete at the college level. This fall, Mikayla will join Cornell University’s volleyball team, where she will continue to uphold her high standards both on the court and in the classroom.
Beyond her individual achievements, Mikayla embodies the spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship. She uplifts her peers, encourages collaboration, and leads by example, making her not only an outstanding athlete but also a role model in her community.
In every aspect of her life, Mikayla sets ambitious goals and works tirelessly to achieve them. Her unwavering focus on her dreams, combined with her resilience and determination, make her a deserving candidate for this recognition.
Thank you for considering Mikayla for this honor. I am confident she will continue to excel and make a positive impact in all her endeavors.
Her ability to navigate such a packed schedule with focus and determination is inspiring, showcasing her confidence and clear vision for her future. Maddy’s choices today are undoubtedly setting her up for a lifetime of success, both on and off the court.
Iga Wasilewska - LOVB Atlanta
She's a very willing person, she's very motivated, coming to Atlanta, a player with great technical qualities, she's very skillful, a very fast central middle blocker. She's been adding a lot with her experience here at LOVB Atlanta and has contributed a lot with all of her qualities to the evolution of our team. - Paulo Coco, LOVB ATL Head Coach
