Basketball runs through Olivia Powers’ family.
But Powers found a different interest: beach volleyball.
At a young age, she learned the tricks of the trade in basketball from her dad, who played in college. She and her four siblings took on the sport and were often found playing one-on-one or horse.
Three of her siblings went on to play basketball in college, but she, the youngest in her family, took a different path.
“I went to high school, and I started playing indoors,” Powers said. “I just wanted to and I liked all the sports and the coach really wanted me to play because I was tall.”
Powers made the varsity team in eighth grade.
However, playing volleyball wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Powers didn’t like the sport at all.
But her best friend Sarah Eaton convinced her to be her partner in a beach volleyball summer league of in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Her indoor volleyball coached warned the then-middle schooler she’d love volleyball more than basketball, and she was right, Eaton remembered.
Since first playing beach volleyball, Powers’ love for the sport has skyrocketed.
“I knew once I started playing beach, it was the best sport I’d ever played,” she said.
The two continued to play together and as they did, their relationship blossomed.
“We were basically partners until she went to LSU,” Eaton said. “We played with other people, of course, but we were the only two — we were the main two girls that played beach volleyball where we lived. It wasn’t a huge sport which is surprising being on the beach so it was basically just us.”
Powers’ sister LeighAnn Hughs said the family supported Powers’ decision, but a few jokes were thrown her way, of course.
Nonetheless, Powers’ talents are undeniable, Hughs said. Her skills were noticeable in middle and high school.
“Olivia is the baby of the family, and I think the most distinctive thing about Olivia is her killer instinct when it comes to competing, and I’ve seen that on the volleyball court with her,” Hughs said. “We were all athletes … but I think Olivia hates losing more than anyone else, and I think that always gave her an edge.”
“When I watched her compete in high school, and even middle school, she just had a different intensity about her, something I definitely never had. I was just out there to have fun and I liked being a part of a team but when it came down to do or die, Olivia definitely had the killer instinct that I didn’t have.”
That killer instinct is now a part of LSU’s beach volleyball team.
Powers signed her letter of intent with LSU in November 2015.
“It’s gone far beyond any expectations I had and I had pretty high expectations,” Powers laughed. “It’s really awesome. It’s everything I could hope for and more.”
Since signing, Powers has won all four matches she has played with her partner, senior Katie Lindelow, with her latest being a contribution in the Tigers’ sweep in the Tiger Beach Challenge on March 18 and March 19.
The duo won in straight sets for the weekend in their matches against Florida International, the University of North Florida, Tulane and South Carolina.
Hughs was in attendance to see her sister play.
“She didn’t really have personal coaches, and she worked on volleyball during her season, but I don’t feel like she had hours and hours of personal coaching and extra training,” Hughs said.
“The exposure to technique at LSU tremendously impacted her games, and especially her partner now, Katie Lindelow I think. Just their dynamics last weekend, I’d never seen Olivia play like that. I finally felt like, ‘Wow. Yea, Livvy is a DI athlete. That’s incredible,” Hughs said. “I wouldn’t want to get out there against her. It’s kind of terrifying.”