Kayla Dondero

Bio

Honors and Awards

• 2025 SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll.
• 2025 CSC Academic All-District Team.
• 2025 NCAA South Region All-Tournament Team.

As a Sophomore

• Played in all 33 matches and 117 sets during the 2025 season, making 31 starts for a Tampa team that finished 32-1 overall and 20-0 in Sunshine State Conference play.
• Helped lead Tampa to an undefeated SSC regular season, NCAA South Regional title, and NCAA Division II national semifinal appearance.
• Ranked sixth in the SSC and 168th nationally in assists per set (5.81).
• Ranked seventh nationally and sixth in the SSC in total assists (680).
• Finished with 220 digs, 20 service aces, and a .904 serve percentage during the season.
• Recorded double-digit assists in 31 matches during the season.
• Posted 20-or-more assists in 20 matches.
• Opened the season with 14 assists and two digs in a sweep of Lander (Sept. 5).
• Recorded 23 assists and two service aces vs. Findlay (Sept. 6).
• Tallied 29 assists and 14 digs against West Florida (Sept. 20).
• Registered 29 assists in a five-set victory over Barry (Oct. 18).
• Recorded 29 assists and 13 digs in a five-set road win at Embry-Riddle (Oct. 24).
• Posted a season-high 35 assists against Embry-Riddle (Nov. 22).
• Tallied 26 assists in the NCAA South Regional win over West Florida (Dec. 5).
• Registered 25 assists in the NCAA National Semifinal victory over Ferris State (Dec. 11).
• Recorded a season-high 16 digs against Embry-Riddle (Nov. 22).
• Tallied double-digit digs in eight matches during the season.
• Posted three service aces in a road victory at Lynn (Nov. 15).
• Recorded at least one service ace in 15 matches during the year.
• Helped Tampa rank among the nation’s leaders in assists per set (12.45), hitting percentage (.302), and winning percentage (.970).

As a Freshman

• Played in 26 matches, starting 17 of them, and appeared in 26 sets.
• Recorded 97 assists, ranking second on the team with 3.73 per set.
• Registered 26 digs, averaging 1.00 per set.
• Recorded 19 assists at Florida Tech (Oct. 25).
• Tallied 9 assists vs East Central (Sep. 14).
• Registered 5 assists vs New Haven (Sep. 7).
• Delivered 4 assists vs Hillsdale (Sep. 7).
• Posted 4 assists vs Anderson (SC) (Sep. 13).

High School

• Attended Mountain Vista High School.
• Lettered four years under coach Doug Shafer.
• Named First Team All-Conference three times.
• 2023 All-State Honorable Mention.
• Four-year Colorado All-State Volleyball Tournament participant.

Personal

• Awarded Magna Cum Laude.
• Four-year Academic letter winner.
• Two-time Academic All-State.
• Volunteered in the community in clubs to sponsor high school and feeder school events.
• Also participated in food drives, read to younger students, hosted blood drives, and helped incoming freshmen adjust to high school.
• Member of National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society.
• Played club for Elevation 18 Peak under Scott Nugent. 
• Was team captain and named to the 2022 USA Volleyball Nationals All-Tournament team.
• Allied health major.
• Daughter of Darren and Kristina Dondero.
• Has a younger sister, Lynsey.
• Birthdate: 11/15/2005.