For Cordova High School’s Katelyn Dablin, volleyball has become a place to learn about perseverance, confidence, and the importance of knowing who you are beyond your performance.
The Class of 2029 libero recently completed a season with Cordova’s junior varsity team and is preparing for a new chapter at Omni Volleyball Club. While her season statistics are still being finalized, the numbers tell only part of her story. Her journey has been shaped by setbacks, opportunities, and a determination to keep improving.
Dablin grew up playing sports, but her introduction to volleyball came after a disappointment elsewhere. When she was cut from her middle school soccer team, she decided to try out for volleyball. She made the team in seventh grade, spent much of that season on the bench, and was cut the following year. Rather than walk away, she began playing club volleyball.
At Aspire Volleyball Club in Folsom, Dablin initially played outside hitter before moving to libero on her 15s team. She started for more than half the season, but a later reduction in playing time challenged her confidence. As she questioned what she needed to improve, she began to recognize how strongly the mental side of sports could affect her play.
A player who had once competed confidently found herself playing cautiously and worrying about mistakes. Looking back, Dablin views that difficult stretch as an important learning experience—one that helped her understand the kind of support athletes need.
An opportunity to join Aspire’s 16s team for its final two tournaments became a turning point. Playing up an age group, Dablin earned a starting role and rediscovered a sense of belonging. She credits coaches Kyle Cook and Chase Skinner with helping rebuild her confidence and renew her love for volleyball.
Their encouragement carried into a summer filled with preparation. Dablin pursued private lessons, club training sessions, open gyms, weight training, and film review. Attending a college camp also exposed her to accomplished players at her position, giving her a clearer picture of the work ahead.
That experience fueled her desire to seek a more competitive environment and challenge herself at a new club. The tryout process at Omni brought another test of resilience. After initially missing out on several teams, including the Prime roster, Dablin received a callback offering her a place on Prime.
For her, that opportunity represents a starting point. With club play set to begin in late November, she hopes to keep developing, earn greater opportunities, and take volleyball as far as she can.
Her recent Cordova JV season offered more lessons along the way. Dablin earned a starting role, and the team opened with four consecutive wins while bringing together several players who were new to the game. The season also prompted her to reflect further on confidence, communication, and how athletes respond to challenging moments.
Those experiences have helped shape a goal that extends beyond her own progress. Dablin wants to become someone younger athletes can look up to and speak more openly about the mental demands of competition. She hopes to encourage players to pursue their goals without allowing a roster decision, a difficult match, or time on the bench to define their worth.
She knows how easy it can be to place your entire identity in a sport. Now, she wants to help others recognize the importance of understanding themselves outside of it, too.
Dablin is still building her volleyball résumé, but she is learning to recognize the value of the work already behind her. Each setback has given her something to carry forward: perspective, motivation, and a deeper understanding of the player and person she wants to become.