In a gym full of bouncing volleyballs, you can tell which one belonged to Mia Kinney.
As players warmed up for a game between Catholic and Webb, the Spartan crowd silenced when Kinney's practice swings sent balls whistling over the net.
Whispers of "Kinney" and "Vanderbilt" reverberated around the student section as the senior hitter racked up 18 kills in the Irish's 3-1 win on Sept. 1.
"Mia is one of those very rare athletes that you're fortunate to get to coach in life," Catholic coach Brent Carter told Knox News. "She's not a vocal leader. She leads by example, she leads my hustle. I don't care if a ball is going into the lobby, she's going to go for it, she's going to dive, she's going to try her best to touch it. It just sets an example for all of our
other kids.
"She's got an elite level arm and she's literally one of the best passers in the country. That's why she's going to the college where she's going."
Carter moves Kinney all across the court to take advantage of the Vanderbilt commit's talent. Catholic will need her to make it back to the TSSAA volleyball state tournament in Division II-AA.
In 2025, the PrepXtra Volleyball Player of the Year led the Irish to their first semifinal appearance since 2022.
"I think we're a lot more gritty," Kinney said. "We're definitely a lot more undersized than last year, but I think that is one of our strengths this year because our defense is better and we can fight through points. We make them swing at least three or four times to score on us."
Through 11 games, Kinney already has more than 100 kills while helping Catholic to an 9-3 record as of Sept. 2, including the game winner over Webb. Each set came down to two points in the tightly contested match.
Carter believes Kinney's competitive drive has propelled Catholic to its success. It comes from years of jostling with her older siblings, Elli and Cooper.Ellie Kinney is a libero for Vanderbilt, whileCooper was a first-roundpick in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.
"I'm the youngest child," Kinney said. "I've been competing with them for my whole life. I've always been the underdog."
Carter has spent years witnessing the Kinneys firsthand. He coached Elli first as a part of the K2 Volleyball Club, then coached Mia in both the club and at Catholic.
"They're both extremely competitive kids, to a level that's Michael Jordan-esque," Carter said about the Kinney sisters. "It's like that in their household with their parents and their other siblings. They're all really competitive kids, and they're gym rats. Cooper, you can't keep him out of the batting cage. And the girls, you can't keep them out of the gym."
Vanderbilt revived its volleyball program in 2024 and played its first full season in 2025. While Mia Kinney committed because it was the "perfect place," she's also excited to share the court with her sister, who will be in her fifth year in the 2027 season.
Carter is confident she'll succeed at the next level.
"She's always had that dog in her. She's a super competitive kid. Every year she continues to get more and more polished with every touch of the ball, what she's communicating on the floor and what she's reading. Her progression has just been phenomenal over the three years with us here."
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Catholic volleyball's Mia Kinney shows 'Michael Jordan-esque' competitiveness
