Eastern Illinois University Athletics

2012 ... Saw signficant action in 21 matches as a true freshman ... including several starts ... shined against arch-rival SEMO, but at home and on the road ... nailed 11 kills for 11 points at home against the Redhawks, while earning her fourth two-block match at SEMO as the Panthers picked up a crucial five-set road win ... hit a season-high .529 at UTM behind ten kills and just one error ... also hit .526 with zero miscues in nice EIU home win over APSU.

HIGH SCHOOL ... Originally from Baltimore, Md., she was a three-year varsity volleyball squad member for coach Michelle DeGroote at Mattawan HS in Michigan ... her squad earned SMAC Championship trophies during both her sophomore and junior years ... also played in the Regional final match during her junior campaign ... also a member of the varsity track unit one season.

PERSONAL ... Majoring in economics... daughter of Shawn & LaSonya Nesbitt... born on November 11... No. 1 sports highlight was "beating the 2nd-ranked team in the state at the district finals during my junior year"... played for the Dead Frog Volleyball Club squad.

OFF THE COURT WITH KAYLA ... Chose EIU "because of coach Kate Price, most definitely ... plus EIU's size and diverse economics program helped to seal the decision"... feels that some of Eastern's advantage over other schools are "the economics major program, along with the study abroad options"... also enjoys playing soccer... currently driving a 2008 Saturn Vue... also enjoys shopping and reading... her favorite food is lasagna, but she dislikes bananas... her best vacation memory was visiting St. Johns beach... her family own a pitbull named 'Sasha'... wishes she could meet author J.K. Rowling... her biggest pet peeve are bad listeners... wishes she could also bring her family cat, 'Luther' to campus with her... her advice to a younger athlete would be "to be an open-minded player and pay attention to the details"... her favorite quote is "Live.  Love.  Dream."... one of her personals goals while at EIU is to study economics abroad.