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Holy Names' Rafols has team spirit

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: October 7, 2009

TAMPA - It's easy to point out Academy of the Holy Names senior volleyball player Kelsey Rafols during a volleyball match.

She's the left-handed outside hitter screaming at the top of her lungs, encouraging her teammates to play harder.

Years ago, she was a quiet freshman - the only freshman - on the varsity team waiting for her chance to play.

"Knowing that many seniors, they were my role models and it helped my leadership," she said.

Now leadership has become Rafols' defining characteristic.

This year she has spearheaded the third annual Play For The Cure/Swim For The Cure Breast Cancer Awareness Night, a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Started by the school's volleyball team in 2007, the event, which features a volleyball match and swim meet against rival Tampa Catholic at 6 p.m. Friday at Holy Names, has raised $3,100 the last two years.

"I went around asking for raffles at different stores and I'm on the Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Buccaneers student advisory board, and they will donate items," she said.

Following last season, in which she led the team in aces (89) and was third in kills (145), Rafols (5 feet, 8 inches) received the team's spirit award. Earlier this season she was named Coach's MVP at the Keswick Volleyball Tournament. This season she will attempt to lead Holy Names to the postseason for the first time since 2007.

But organizing team events is the tip of Rafols' iceberg. She has accumulated more than 600 hours of community service, spending time at St. Joseph's Hospital, Metropolitan Ministries, the Alpha House of Tampa and serving in a mentoring program for middle-school girls at Holy Names.

"I do a lot of community service," said Rafols, who has a 4.3 weighted grade-point average. "There are a lot of teenagers who go through issues like mine."

Last summer, Rafols went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Although she was born in the United States, she is 100 percent Cuban.

"My first language is Spanish, so I was able to communicate with them," she said.

Playing collegiately isn't in Rafols plans. The 17-year-old intends to study medicine and hopes to attend the University of Florida. She will consider playing intramural volleyball at whatever institution she attends.

She said she will continue to do work in the community and abroad.

"By doing one thing, I want to do more," she said. "To see the results of it all, I want to do more."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached (813) 259-7851.

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