Meet Katelin Opitz: Five Questions with Youth Inc.'s Girls' Volleyball Ambassador

Katelin Opitz, a former Mountain West Conference Libero of the Year, holds the all-time digs record at Colorado State University. A former assistant coach at University of Denver, she has continued to influence the game and its players through her channels and messages to young athletes. She is Youth Inc.'s Girls' Volleyball Ambassador. We asked her five questions about youth sports, life advice, and more.

1. What's your favorite youth sports memory?

One of my favorite sports memories was from my senior year at Colorado State when we hosted the first rounds of the NCAA Tournament. We opened with a five-set win over Middle Tennessee, then upset Washington in the second round to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in many years. Playing in front of our home crowd, in what would be my final match in our arena, made the moment unforgettable.

2. Who has been the most influential person or coach in your life?

Growing up, my older sister and brother were my biggest role models. I wanted to be just like them, and they’re the reason I fell in love with sports and stuck with it. My sister played college volleyball, and my brother competed in track and field in college. Today, they continue to inspire me through their successful careers and the way they’ve built strong, loving families.

3. What’s one lesson you’ve learned through your sport that has shaped your life?

Sports taught me resilience and problem-solving. In club volleyball, I didn’t earn a starting spot until I was 17. But I loved the game, and the pursuit of improvement became something I truly enjoyed. Along the way, I had incredible coaches—one of them, Jim Miret (who later joined the Youth Inc. podcast), taught me how to coach myself and to value consistency over quick wins.

Those years also taught me how to be a great teammate, even when I wasn’t on the court. My parents played a big role in this. They didn’t fight my battles for me—they encouraged me to have tough conversations with my coaches, whether the feedback was encouraging or hard to hear. Sometimes those conversations went well, and other times I faced tough situations, even bullying from one coach. Still, my parents only stepped in when absolutely necessary, and because of that, I developed the confidence to advocate for myself. Those lessons in resilience, communication, and self-advocacy are ones I carry into my career today, and they’re values I hope to instill in my own children.

4. What advice would you give to your 10-year-old self?

Enjoy every part of youth sports—the games, the friendships, the sparkly socks and jerseys, the pump-up music, and the memories you’ll make. Learn to love competition, play with intensity, and don’t be afraid to try as many sports as you can. There will be a time to specialize, but for now, soak up the joy of playing them all.

5. What is a motto or belief that you live by?

Do your absolute best, focus on what you can control, and let the rest fall into place. If you’ve given your best and done everything possible to succeed, you can walk away proud—no matter the outcome.

More from Katelin Opitz

Katelin sat down with head Coach of Valor Christian High School Volleyball, Jayne McHugh, to discuss strategies for communication with athletes when it comes to managing playing time, the importance of athlete evaluations, and fostering team relationships. Watch their conversation here.

For more conversations on Youth Inc., head to Katelin's page.

Check out Katelin Opitz's profile from her time coaching at the University of Denver.

For more from Katelin Opitz, follow her on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.