Sports

Going into her 12th season as Rochester’s volleyball coach, Ladi Iya has set several marks for the program, including a record undefeated stretch to open a season (a 12–0 start in 2018), nearly 20 all–UAA honorees, and a handful of tournament titles.

A former collegiate middle blocker and an Olympic-level player with extensive experience as a coach, Iya was introduced to volleyball by a high school coach who persuaded her to switch from soccer.

She is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association and a graduate of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy.

What do you love most about volleyball?

It is fast, dynamic, and skill specific. Even if you make all the right technical moves, you still may not get the result you want. It’s challenging and because of that, it’s rewarding.

What’s something about you that surprises people?

I was born and raised in Nigeria, and I played on the national team in the Olympic qualifiers in 2004. We didn’t qualify, but it was a phenomenal experience.

What do you enjoy most about coaching at Rochester?

The students and the supportive environment. It’s a family environment here, too. We share struggles and challenges, and we celebrate personal and collective victories.

What’s a favorite moment from a recent season?

We started the 2018 season so strong, with a 12–0 record. Better than “just” a great record, though, was making history. Women’s volleyball had never started so well. Senior night was particularly fun. We beat Nazareth on our home court, and we worked for it—we won the first and third games, lost the second, and then the fourth was just a nail-biter, with us winning 29–27.

Do you have a go-to quote that you use for inspiration—or to inspire others?

I love quotes. I put up a quote of the day or week or ask the team to come up with a quote. I’ll put them up in the locker room or on our team whiteboard for inspiration. One of my favorites is from author H. Jackson Brown Jr., who said to “strive for excellence, not perfection.” Another is from Harlan Ellison, the legendary sci-fi author, who said, “You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.”