Izzy Mahaffey is one of the starting freshmen on the varsity volleyball team at Queen Creek High School. Her love for the sport started when she attended her older sisters’ volleyball games as a child.
“She was the tagalong to all the tournaments, and she would pick up the ball and play with it and I think that’s where her love of the sport and her volleyball IQ came from,” said Izzy’s mom, Molly Mahaffey, adding that she learned the game and understood the rules from a young age and would explain what was going on to the adults in the stands.
Mahaffey started playing club volleyball when she was 8 years old. Now, she plays libero on the varsity volleyball team at Queen Creek High.
“Izzy is successful because she just has such a drive and love for the sport, and she’s super competitive which helps her to be so good,” said Queen Creek Girls Volleyball Head Coach Erica Crismon.
Mahaffey plays at Arizona Storm Elite Club Volleyball, where her 14U team won the national championship last year, and she plays beach volleyball at Beach 48 Volleyball. Mahaffey says playing beach volleyball is a lot different than playing indoor volleyball, since there is a lot more court to cover with only two players, but that this helps her get better at controlling the ball and anticipating where it is going to go.
According to Mahaffey, volleyball keeps her busy year-round between both clubs and the varsity team, but she makes sure to keep up with her schoolwork.
“I try to stay on top of all my work and do what needs to be done so I can continue to play volleyball,” she said.
Mahaffey plans to continue playing throughout high school and beyond. She wants to play in college, with hopes of playing professionally one day.
