Uniqueness is a rarity these days. Players become more similar to each other and there are less and less standouts in the era where everyone has seen it before.
However, enter University of Tampa outside hitter Kaleigh Cunningham, who is bringing uniqueness back to the game.
The senior has all of the skills needed to be awarded a second-team All-American she received after her 2009 campaign, but that is only part of this role model’s character. “Athletically, my greatest accomplishment was my
All-American [honor] last year, but being true to what I stand for and not following the crowd [is what I am most proud of],” Cunningham said of herself.
Head Coach Chris Catanach speaks highly of the senior.
“She’s a great role model, very tactful and learning to be more assertive. She is so well respected that people listen up,” Coach Catanach said of his player. “She brings it every day and goes all out, whether it is at practice or in the classroom, it doesn’t matter [the situation].”
She is the all-around player as she ended her junior season with 354 kills and 278 digs.
The Winter Park native also tallied 35 blocks on that season to truly be a multi-tool player.
Cunningham is picking up where she left off on her breakout season, ending the Tampa Classic with 44 kills and 23 digs.
Cunningham has been involved with volleyball since the fourth grade, but her competitive play began a little later during her eighth grade season.
Her parents influenced her tremendous work ethic, and gave her the confidence to be herself.
“I look up to both of my parents. They ran track at Florida State, so from a volleyball standpoint, I look up to my coach [Catanach],” the outside hitter said. “My parents pushed me to be unique and true to who I am. They gave me the confidence to be different from everyone else.”
Fellow teammate and outside hitter Eva Dupay enjoys the company of Cunningham across the court.
“Kaleigh is an amazing person on and off the court. Volleyball is only a small part of her character; she is truly an amazing person,” Dupay said. “Her leadership is entirely natural. It is part of who she is rather than a role assigned to her.”
Cunningham alluded to her leadership inspiration.
“I think that its more my personality, coaches in my life have always expected more of me, so it is kinda just my personality,” Cunningham said. “I’ve been like that as a kid, leading people to go places.”
The communications major developed character and strength from both good times and bad to build the role model she is today.
“My most memorable moment at UT was really not enjoying my first semester [as a freshman]. It is not a good memory but it built my character and made me who I am now,” she said. “My [best] memory was killing Saint Leo in [the NCAA South] Regionals.”
When asked how she approaches tough game situations, Cunningham playfully responded, “I spaz out and freak out. How I want to is have my mind get out of my body’s way, just play the game. It’s called a game so it is supposed to be fun.”
The first team all-Sunshine State Conference recipient also has great aspirations for the future.
“I ultimately want to be a wife and a mom, after college I want to travel and be a missionary for a while, then I would like to do public relations at a nonprofit here in Tampa, those are my goals in life,” Cunningham said of her future.
“In five years I see myself living in another country, working and telling people about Jesus. Hopefully that’s God’s plan but I could also just be living in Tampa and I’d be fine with that.”With the passion she has showed while at UT these goals seem to be a very reachable reality.
“I glow when she represents me or the team. I know I am in good hands when she represents us,” Catanach said.
Cunningham returns to action with the newly ranked No. 1 University of Tampa volleyball team as they head to Denver, Co. for the Colorado Premier Tournament.
Marc Jordan can be reached at mcjordan@spartans.ut.edu.