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Keough Was Dual Threat

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By CRISTINA LEDRA

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Girls basketball players commonly play volleyball in the fall because the skills often translate. So it only makes sense that as good as Kayli Keough is in basketball, she also would be very good at volleyball.

For earning dual honors as the Tribune's Pasco County Girls Basketball and Volleyball Player of the Year, Keough can add another accolade as the Tribune's Pasco County Female Athlete of the Year.

"I know each one helps you because you need similar traits for both so each one helps you get better at the other one," Keough said. "I know I'd be playing basketball for a while and I'd feel a little burned out from basketball then I'd play volleyball and it just flip-flopped. It allowed me to have a balance. It allowed me to play both and not get burned out on one sport."

As she got better at one that allowed her to get better at the other and she consequently improved on both ends.

"Because I was a middle hitter in volleyball, I would slide and that's the same footwork as a layup so footwork definitely helps and to just be ready for jumping, obviously, and being able to move quick on your feet translates to volleyball and basketball so by practicing either one I got better at the other sport," Keough said.
Keough began playing basketball and volleyball around the same time in middle school and while she very much enjoyed volleyball, her history was with basketball.
Keough grew up playing basketball with her dad in the driveway and when it came time for her to focus on one or the other she realized that she could one day live without volleyball, but not without basketball.

She played club volleyball her sophomore year but the majority of her attention went to basketball.

Her dedication paid off in a full basketball scholarship to Florida State, for which she leaves in about a month to start conditioning.

That did not stop her, however, from mourning the end of her competitive volleyball career after Land O' Lakes' final match this season.

"I cried so much," Keough said. "I love playing volleyball. Volleyball was always my fun sport and basketball was my serious sport. I'm going to miss it a lot."

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