Most people can hardly form full sentences at the age of two, but one dedicated girl was already on the volleyball court.

Playing a sport takes lots of dedication and constant work. Volleyball enthusiast Tenley McKinney has been raised on the sport, and she plays for various teams.

“When I first started, I played for rec so I could figure out what it was and how it works,” Tenley said. “For my club teams, I played for Mavs 816 because I was pretty good in rec. I moved to SKC because it was closer and the coaches were more experienced. I also play for Gardner Edgerton High School on the Freshman A team”

Tenley has somebody to thank for introducing her to volleyball. Her mother is also a huge fan of the sport.

“She played in high school and got two scholarships. She coaches rec volleyball for little leagues to help introduce them to the sport,” Tenley said. 

Although volleyball is Tenley’s passion, she has to balance being a student as well. She has a specific routine to stay on par.

“I’ll go to school and then immediately after I’ll do my school volleyball practice. Then as soon as I get home I do my homework for two hours. Then, I practice with my mom for an hour or so,” Tenley said.

As you can see, Tenley’s mom is a big help to her. Tenley is grateful to her mom for constantly inspiring her.

“My mom inspires me because she’s been through a lot with volleyball and balancing coaching and her house life. She inspires me to be a better person and a better player,” Tenley said.

Tenley sometimes participates in club track, even though volleyball takes up most of her time. “It’s relatively my only sport, but if I’m in an off season, or injured I go into club track.  Volleyball is my main sport for sure, though” Tenley said.

Tenley is thankful for volleyball because it allows her to meet new people. “When I first started playing on my first rec team, I’ve had friends that have been with me ever since” Tenley said. “The friends that you make on the court are very fun” Tenley said.

Tenley is looking forward to her future. She has big dreams to stay with volleyball as long as possible.

“I’m definitely hoping to play volleyball beyond high school. My dream is to play for Nebraska University and then go professional,” Tenley said.

Tenley is not only an amazing player, but a motivator to others.

“Don’t give up on the dream of playing your sport because you get into your head. If you wind up with a bad coach, don’t let that take away your love of the sport because they just want you to get better. Work on your skills outside of practice so you can get better,” Tenley said.