Underdog Katie Spieler, Women’s Sand Volleyball Athlete Plays with Passion

Wake up at 5:30 am. Lift weights at 6:30 am. Ice treatment, then team breakfast. Attend class from Noon until 2:45 pm. Practice for 2 hours in the evening. Return home, complete schoolwork and go to bed early.

This is a day in the life of Katie Spieler a player on the UH Rainbow Wahine Sand Volleyball Team.

To keep organized and focused on the big picture, Katie jots down a few positive goals she would like to accomplish by the end of the day. On game days she keeps her warm-ups the same, wears the exact same clothes, and even the same hair tie.

Although everyday presents an exhausting challenge to stay mentally and physically alert, Katie says that passion for the sport and building lasting relationships is worth the commitment.

Katie remarked, “Playing beach volleyball gives me so much happiness. Athletics has been a huge part of my family and it has provided me with long-lasting relationships. Thinking back, I met all of my closest friends through volleyball.”

Unlike many of her friends and competitors, Katie doesn’t have the height of a typical volleyball player. At only 5 foot 5 inches tall, Katie is considered undersized and really an underdog on the sand volleyball court.

“As a shorter player on the court, I have to be sharp on every aspect of the game. The few people who have believed that I would succeed despite my disadvantage are the ones that I play for,” Katie said.

With a strong motivation to put 110% into every match, Katie admits that recovering from losses is a challenge. One of the main things that help her clear her mind is to be alone in the ocean.

“What helps me cope with a tough loss is to immediately jump in the ocean and be alone for a while. Reflecting on what I need to improve on and recognizing that I gave my best effort helps me gain perspective,” she said.

Katie is a senior in class standing studying Accounting at the Shidler College of Business. However she is in her third year of eligibility as a sand volleyball athlete. She plans to enroll in a Masters program in Accounting after receiving her Bachelors degree.

Her dream is to play sand volleyball at the professional level while working for a company like Patagonia that has an environmentally friendly mission. Like her hero, sand volleyball legend Misty May, Katie wants to be the best player she can be while giving back to her sport, to youth and to the environment.