DILLON, Mont. – Montana Western continues to honor the 50th Anniversary year of the passing of Title IX by sharing the stories and history of women's athletics at UMW. Today honors Women's Volleyball upcoming senior KayLee Kopp and her journey throughout her time at Montana Western.

KayLee Kopp - Redshirt Junior, Women's Volleyball (2019-Current)
"I always knew I wanted to play volleyball, so it was just a matter of where I was going to play. I have moved around a thousand different times growing up because my dad is a pilot. I thought to myself well, I might as well go to a state that I have never been to before.

I was sending out a bunch of film for recruitment. Came on a visit and I loved it. I was surprised that I loved it because I am from a really big city. But, I got on campus and everyone was saying hi to me. I was shocked they were even talking to me. It was that summer before I was supposed to start that Brent left and I still wanted to come here. I found out it was Coach Katie and I came out for another visit. I was like 'yep this is where I want to be'.

When I did actually go to leave and my parents came to help drop me off, I was like 'oh my gosh I am going to die'. I had a really hard time my first week here just because I was really homesick, worse than I thought I was going to be. But, the girls were just awesome. They were so welcoming and so sweet. They had me over anytime I needed anything and just made it super easy for me like another home away from home.

When I first got here, it was a rough start. I got hurt, then had surgery, and then got hurt again my second year here. So, a big reason I decided to come back and to use my extra year next season is simply that I just wanted to play. I wanted to start and finish a season with these girls and I want to finish my career on a high note.

A big highlight since coming out here is just coming into myself. Since I came out here and got hurt, I took on a whole different role than I thought I was going to be taking on. I just really had to find out why I loved volleyball. My freshman year became about out finding a new reason to love the game and new role for myself.

I found out through the process that I love coaching and I love the strategic side of the game. I really liked learning how the body moves and why we do certain things. I have learned a lot about what I am interested in through getting hurt, which was surprising. We did not have a strength and conditioning coach when I was in high school and I think that would have been beneficial for all athletes. I would love to go back and coach back at my hometown after I graduate next year and maybe fill that role.

One of my favorite memories here was playing MSU-Northern in five sets. A normal fifth set goes to 15 points. I think ours went to like 21 to 23, and it was just point for point back and forth. I was taking stats at the time too, so I had to write down, look up, write down, look up. It was so scary but it was so fun. Just coming together and feeling that win after as a group was awesome.

Athletics has always been an outlet for me growing up and for everything in general. Growing up, I was shy and not a self-advocate for myself. I would have to thank volleyball because I do not know if I would be the same person that I am today. Athletics has just grown me into the person that I am now and who I want to be off the court and how to treat people. It has helped form me into a leader and help me talk to people.

Volleyball has made me a better person overall because we have so many different girls who like so many different things. There are so many different personalities that you kind of have to navigate your relationship with each one. I think that has really helped me knowing how to communicate with people, especially when they have different beliefs, values, and strategies to life. Just knowing how to communicate has been a really big deal for me.

I love being a Bulldog. It is just such a great atmosphere. Everyone is a Bulldog and when I think of Western, I think of the word grit. Everyone has the desire to want the best for each other. We all win or lose together. It is such a close community, us as current Bulldog athletes or Montana Western alumni and even just in the community. Everyone genuinely just wants the best for each other.

One piece of advice I would give is to just trust the process. There are going to be so many things that you are going to go through; it is important to lean on each other. Do not be afraid to ask for help and take advantage of every opportunity you are given. Do not rush the process, be where your feet are. Coach says that all the time, but I think that is such an important thing to remember because it will all go by so fast. And now we are all trying to use our extra year of eligibility since we are running out of time.

I am sad to be leaving Western after next year, but I am excited for the future and to see where I go after Western. But we really are such a close-knit group of girls. We are limitless into what we can do next season and all of the things we can do on the court in the coming years. I am excited for what is to come, but it is definitely sad. I am looking forward to proving ourselves even more and dominating in the fall."

To view the Title IX page and other stories, click the link here: Title IX - Montana Western, University of (umwbulldogs.com)

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