Olivia Cahill is the type of person who does not have the word complacency even take residence in her ears. Instead, the senior is someone who is constantly and consistently setting new heights and improving herself as a leader and athlete for the North Branford volleyball team.

Olivia grew up following in her mother’s footsteps as a cheerleader and dancer. But then she forged her own athletic path with basketball and softball. Yet around sixth grade, she made what proved to be a pivotal decision to try out for volleyball. She was hooked from the first set, and she is now a middle hitter/blocker and captain for a Thunderbirds’ squad that finished 13-7 on the regular season.

“I love how it is a way to disconnect from other things, like if I am having a stressful week. I always feel happy coming out of practice. I also love the rewarding feeling I get from giving it my all,” says Olivia. “I have become successful from my determination and just practicing hard all the time. I never take practice as a joke. I also do volleyball year-round with club teams to help me stay in shape. I always have a goal for myself. When I achieve it, I set a new one. Your ceiling is your floor is something my grandfather tells me. I also have a balance of using determination, but also not getting too stressed about the sport. My setters have also been huge for me; I do not get all the kills out there without them.”

Olivia is front and center on virtually every point out there. She also plays a dynamic role by being able to facilitate production on both sides of the playbook for the Thunderbirds. She explains that being a signal caller for sets and spikes can be a daunting task at times, but it is nothing she cannot handle.

“I enjoy being upfront the whole time, and it is also fun to play offense and defense. I am there to block when we are receiving, and then I am there for the hit,” says Olivia. “Setters know where I need it to make a good kill. Working with everyone is so great, and I love helping the underclassmen. It was tough working my way up in the sport when I started and not knowing much about it, but with my coaches’ help, I did it. I think the hardest in-game thing for me has been getting down my timing for jumping and blocking.”

Showcasing herself as a leader, Olivia aspires to leave the same indelible mark on the underclassmen that her predecessors imprinted in her when she was in their shoes. She aims to be an empathic leader who is easily accessible for all teammates at a moment's notice.

“Being a captain is so important to me. It is my biggest duty as captain to help the younger girls. I want to leave them with all of the information I have about the game,” says Olivia. “I want to be a role model for them like how my captains were for me when I was an underclassman. I want to meet with them, help them, and uplift them through it all while they learn the game. My biggest goal as a captain is to make the team feel like a family.”

The North Branford volleyball program has seen a two-year revitalization as a whole, and Olivia has been someone who has reaped many rewards and good experiences from the ride. But she denotes none of this happens without mentors that know how to coach the girls up both mid-match and throughout practice.

“For us, we want to go far in both Shorelines and states this year,” Olivia says. “My first two years here, we did not make it. Yet the fact that we have come together as a team the last few years and done just that is a big accomplishment. The coaches have been amazing. They always have key points for us and help get us through games; they uplift us, as well. The camaraderie is also so great with this team. Everyone on the varsity team now has played together since sixth grade, so we know each other so well.”

North Branford volleyball Head Coach Tori Ramada explains that there is never a day that passes by where Olivia doesn't look to gain in her skills or overall knowledge of the game. She is additionally an empathetic and compassionate leader for others.

“Olivia has been an extremely reliable and dedicated player throughout her high school career. Her passion for the game and her mentality to always work to improve shows what a great player and young woman she is,” says Ramada. “As a captain, she has a great relationship with her teammates and makes them feel comfortable both on and off the court. In addition, she is a fantastic role model for the underclassmen. It has been extremely rewarding to watch her grow throughout her four years on the team.”

Regardless of how her final postseason plays out with the T-Birds, Olivia has taken away a great deal of critical skills that will serve her well for years to come. She knows how to fully function with others and utilize that cohesion to achieve success.

“I have learned a lot about leadership. Becoming a captain and being one of the older girls on the team showed me how important it is to be there for everyone,” says Olivia. “I also learned how important it is to learn how to work with others. Working with teammates to reach the top has been so helpful and taught me so much about life.”