By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(August 31, 2024 9:30 AM ET) Whether she is hitting spikes, making jewelry, or creating donuts for the family business, Concord High School volleyball Iyla Weeks has a passion for performance.
The CHS senior said she loves to push herself in whatever she does.
She must be doing something right when it comes to athletics, business, and academics.
“Whatever I do, I push myself to be the best,” Weeks said. “As long as things stay positive … it makes everything better.”
Like on the volleyball court where Weeks was named as an all-state player last year for the Yellowjackets in Division 3. She has played at the varsity level since ninth grade and has 1,140 kills, a kill percentage of 38 percent, and more than 100 blocks and 550 digs.
Not bad for someone who thought basketball would be her sport of choice before high school.
“I started playing volleyball as a seventh grader due to my sisters’ (Georgia and Billie) love for the sport,” Weeks said. “Volleyball has such a great family environment.”
Weeks has spent three years playing for a local travel team called Flite. She has learned valuable lessons on the squad.
“Our travel league coach punishes us if we don’t talk (on the court),” Weeks said. “It is not a bad habit to have.”
Longtime Concord Coach Kathy Lehman has taken notice and said Weeks is one of the top leaders she has ever coached.
“Iyla is a great player but what puts her above the top is that she is a great leader on and off the court,” Lehman said. “I have coached for almost 33 years and would have to say she is one of my all-time best leaders.”
Weeks played basketball as a freshman, softball her freshman and sophomore seasons, and ran track last spring. She qualified for three events in the Michigan High School Athletic Association D-4 state meet in two sprint relays and the high jump.
“Sports teaches you how to be on a team and not be selfish,” Weeks said.
Of the court, Weeks stays busy. She is an artist who makes sterling silver jewelry, paints, and creates pottery. She has a small art room in her house and sells her creations on Etsy and at her parent’s taxidermy shop.
Weeks, her two sisters, and another Concord family created Dirt Road Donuts – a food truck that travels to various events around the area – three years ago.
“We just hook up the generator and go at it,” Weeks said. “It is a lot of fun.”
She hopes to play college volleyball – looking to play locally at Spring Arbor University or Siena Heights University.
She should get academic scholarship opportunities with a 4.072 grade point average.
