Senior right side and defensive specialist Rowan Kage has seen plenty of volleyball matches inside the Gainesville High gym, but last week’s senior night win over rival Buchholz will be one she never forgets.
The Hurricanes rallied from two sets down for a reverse sweep in front of a packed crowd, a night Kage called “super loud and super energetic.” It was the kind of performance that she’ll remember forever as she had 19 digs, 16 kills and 5 blocks to avenge an earlier loss this season and earn Kage this week’s UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Athlete of the week.
For Kage, one of just two seniors on this year’s roster, that leadership role was something she stepped into with pride. She was a captain last season but shared the spotlight with three seniors. This fall, the responsibility of guiding a young team became hers to own.
“Coming into this year, I knew I had to step up because we lost those three leaders. I knew I had to be the vocal one on the court and in huddles,” she said. “I think I’ve really stepped into that role and I’m doing a good job trying to grow as I go.”
Kage’s leadership is evident in more than just her voice. She’s learned to read her teammates and understand how each player responds to encouragement, correction, or energy.
“You learn with each game and learn what each player needs separately, how you need to talk to them during plays,” she said. “They’ve learned what kind of leader I am, and we’ve all learned to accommodate each other.”
That connection has helped the Hurricanes regroup after an early postseason exit last year and refocus on making a deeper playoff run. They have won 6 of the last 7 matches and things are starting to come together as the season progresses.
“We lost the three seniors, but we kept most of the same team,” Kage said. “So we’ve focused on playing more as a team, together as a team, and that’s what’s helped us excel.”
Her appreciation for the people around her extends beyond the court, with an appreciation for the coaches and support staff that help her and her teammates everyday. Kage credits Gainesville High athletic trainer Ebonie Whitted for being a constant presence and a positive force in the program.
“It’s so amazing to have her,” Kage said. “She’s so invested in us and always excited when we tell her we won. She’s there for every game, asking if we need anything, and after practices she always checks in. She’s just so present and so nice, it makes such a difference to have someone like that in your corner.”
Kage’s path to volleyball wasn’t a straight line. She grew up in Gainesville after moving from California at age two and spent her early athletic years in gymnastics. But when the sport began taking a toll on her body, she made a change that would define her next chapter.
“I kind of lost my love for gymnastics, there was no joy in it anymore,” she said. “Then I found volleyball through a family friend, and it’s just been a light in my life. It’s been the best thing I’ve discovered.”
That joy still drives her today and is what she’ll carry with her next year when she heads to the University of West Florida to continue her volleyball career. But before she heads west, Kage still has unfinished business with her Gainesville teammates. She’s determined to make her final season one to remember. For the wins, yes, but also for the memories made with the girls who have become like family.
“The relationships I’ve made have given me such a big family,” she said. “We hang out all the time, before practice, on weekends, wherever. We’re such good friends, and that’s what makes the chemistry on the court so strong. We play for each other.”
It’s that blend of leadership, love and loyalty that makes Kage a fitting choice for the UF Health Athlete of the Week and a player her teammates will remember long after the final match.
Each weekly UF Health Athlete of the Week winner is eligible for the UF Health High School Athlete of the Year scholarship, a $2,500 award presented at the end of the 2025–26 academic year.