Edinburg Daily Review

By RAUL GARCIA JR | The Edinburg Daily Review

EDINBURG, Texas — For Edinburg North High School senior Kaylin Dominguez, volleyball is more than a sport. It has been a journey of growth, perseverance, leadership and learning how to trust herself when the pressure is at its highest.

Now a four-year varsity letterman wearing jersey No. 2, Dominguez enters her senior season as the Cougars’ libero, embracing a position that allows her to make an impact from the back row.

“I enjoy being the player my teammates can depend on,” Dominguez said. “I also love the challenge of reading the game, making difficult defensive plays and keeping the ball alive. I also like the pressure because it makes me want to push myself and do better.”

As a defensive specialist, Dominguez understands that many of the team’s biggest plays begin with a strong defensive effort. She spends considerable time working on serve receive, digging and out-of-system sets.

“Serve receive is what gets the game going, so as a defensive player you need to have a good serve receive,” she said.

That commitment to defense helped Dominguez reach one of the milestones she had dreamed about since beginning her high school career: recording 1,000 digs.

She accomplished the feat as a junior.

“Getting my 1,000 digs was definitely my best memory as a high school volleyball player,” Dominguez said. “That has been a goal of mine since coming into my high school volleyball career.”

Now, she has another number in her sights.

Dominguez hopes to reach 2,000 career digs during her senior season while also taking on an even larger leadership role with her teammates.

“My personal goal is to hopefully get 2,000 digs and also, as a senior, be a leader for my other teammates and help them,” she said.

A Rivalry to Remember

One of the matches Dominguez is looking forward to most this season is the rivalry matchup against Edinburg High School.

“Each year they are our biggest rivalry,” she said.

For Dominguez, representing Edinburg North has been one of the most meaningful parts of her high school experience.

“Representing my school on the volleyball team has been one of the greatest honors of my high school experience,” she said. “As a four-year varsity letterman and now a senior libero, I’ve had the opportunity to grow not only as an athlete but also as a leader and teammate.”

Her goals extend beyond individual statistics. Dominguez wants the Cougars to reach the playoffs and continue advancing while becoming a stronger team along the way.

“My team goal for this season is to definitely make playoffs and further, but also grow as a team and learn from our mistakes so we can correct ourselves and only get better from it,” she said.

From Little League to Senior Leader

Dominguez’s volleyball journey began when she was just 7 years old.

At the time, volleyball was simply something she tried for fun while soccer was her primary sport. But as she participated in more training sessions and games, her interest in volleyball grew.

“I realized I actually liked volleyball a little more, so I started going to trainings and playing in more games and fell in love,” she said.

Her parents have remained her biggest supporters throughout that journey.

They were there when she first picked up a volleyball, during an injury that kept her from playing as a freshman, and throughout her rise to becoming a senior leader.

“They have inspired me to not give up even when it gets hard and to always believe in myself no matter what,” Dominguez said. “They have inspired me to make them proud each time.”

Before each match, Dominguez works to keep herself mentally prepared while also enjoying the experience with her teammates.

She reminds herself that mistakes are part of the game.

“I tell myself each time before a game that I will do good and that it’s also okay if I make a mistake because no one is perfect,” she said.

Physically, she warms up with the team, listens to music and enjoys the pregame atmosphere.

Leading by Example

Dominguez also recognizes that being a senior means more than making plays on the court. She wants to help younger players develop and enjoy their own high school volleyball experiences.

Her advice is simple: embrace the moment, remain coachable and believe in yourself.

“Enjoy every moment because your high school career goes by much faster than you think,” Dominguez said. “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. They will only help you grow as a player.”

She also encourages younger athletes to listen to their coaches, build strong relationships with teammates and support one another.

“And most importantly, always believe in yourself even when you feel like you can’t,” she said. “Tell yourself you can.”

Off the court, being a student-athlete has helped Dominguez develop skills she expects to carry into adulthood.

“My favorite part about being a student-athlete is the fact that it has taught me self-discipline, time management and responsibility,” she said. “It has also given me friendships not only through school but also through sports.”

And while Dominguez takes her role as a senior seriously, she knows how to have fun with her teammates. She points to freshman Paige Palacios as the team’s biggest jokester.

“She just knows how to make the whole team laugh even when she’s not trying to,” Dominguez said.

Looking Beyond the Court

After graduation, Dominguez plans to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio and major in forensic science, with the goal of eventually becoming a forensic investigator.

For now, however, her focus remains on making the most of her final season in an Edinburg North uniform.

She also takes pride in representing South Texas wherever her volleyball journey takes her.

“What I love most about my hometown is that it is a very close-knit community and everyone supports one another,” she said. “I love representing South Texas wherever I go.”

Her favorite school subject is English, while her favorite meal is chicken strips with buffalo sauce and mac and cheese.

But when she steps onto the volleyball court wearing No. 2, Dominguez has a different priority: keep the ball alive, compete for every point and be the teammate others can count on.

With 1,000 digs already behind her and 2,000 in her sights, the Edinburg North senior is preparing to make her final varsity season one to remember.