Contributed Photo/Courtesy JR Olivar: Robyn Olivar of Fort Thomas signed her national letter of intent to play volleyball for Haskell Indian Nations University.
Robyn Olivar to play for Haskell Indian Nations University
By Jon Johnson
FORT THOMAS – For the first time in the 13 years athletic director Lee Haws has been at Fort Thomas, a local player has signed a national letter of intent to play sports at a four-year college.
Fort Thomas outside hitter Robyn Olivar signed her letter to play for Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawerence, Kansas at a ceremony Tuesday morning.
“We’re super excited,” said Olivar’s father, JR Olivar. “She was hoping for volleyball. As a last resort, she was going to do basketball, but she got what she wanted. It’s kind of far, but we’re glad for her.”
Robyn helped her squad reach the final four in the state playoffs in 2016 and was voted as the region’s player of the year. In 2017, she was named the regional offensive player of the year. Additionally, she is in the top three in her class academically.
“She always pushes herself, academically as well,” JR said.
Robyn has served as captain of her team the past two years and had to compete with having a different volleyball coach all four years of high school.
“Every year, she had to learn the same stuff all over again,” JR Olivar said.
The team may have a match in Prescott, but JR said the family would also make the trek to Kansas to watch her play.
Haskell began with 22 American Indian children in 1884 and continues to serve the educational needs of American Indian and Alaska Native people from across the United States.
The institution became a junior college in 1970 and became Haskell Indian Nations University in 1993. Last year, its volleyball team finished with a 14-21 record and made it into the postseason for the second year in a row. They play in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
