Polk State gives All-American graduate Ru a shot at an education

Kaila Ru will leave Polk State College as one of the most decorated volleyball players in program history, but she’ll also be leaving with something perhaps more important – a degree.

Ru, 20, will receive her Associate in Arts from Polk State as a member of the Spring 2023 Graduating Class. To have the opportunity in the first place, Ru had to make a big decision – whether to leave her native New Zealand.

“We don’t have sports scholarship opportunities,” she said. “The only scholarship opportunities in New Zealand are academic.”

Granted an extra year of eligibility following the COVID-19 pandemic, Ru spent three years at Polk State. After helping the Eagles reach the national NJCAA Tournament in 2021, she was named a team captain for the 2022 season before starring as one of the best junior college players in the country.

“My mom and dad weren’t sure at first if they were going to let me come to America, but they did,” Ru recalled. “They knew this was my dream. My mom – win or lose – always has something to say after every game. I just want to make them proud.”

Despite being more than 8,000 miles apart, Ru’s mother, Kirsty Puhara, and father, Ioane Tearoiti, have remained a big part of her support system. Puhara works in early childcare while Tearoiti operates heavy equipment. When she left for Polk State, Ru became the first member of her family to attend college.

Ru is the oldest of three sisters. Her youngest sister, Shinia Ru, 6, was just 3 years old when the Polk State standout left home. Perceived as a role model by the younger Shinia, Ru has made it a priority to live up to those expectations.

“It’s hard not seeing them, but I call my family every day,” Ru said of her family. “They’re real proud. I feel like I have a responsibility to make them proud.”

Known for having a largely international roster, it was a pair of former Polk State All-Suncoast Conference and New Zealanders, Nicky Pio and Anilise Fitzi, who put Ru in contact with then Head Coach German Del Valle. It’s an experience that allowed her to excel.

“What I’ll remember the most is the people here,” Ru reflected. “We might not have the flashiest facilities, but it was the people who made my time here memorable.”

As a redshirt sophomore this past season, Ru led the Eagles in most categories, including total kills (241), kills per set (3.01), total blocks (60), and blocks per set (0.75). Her .376 hitting percentage ranked third nationally.

“She tries to make everyone around her better,” Assistant Coach Dayanna Barbosa said. “That’s why we made her a team captain this year and she handled the pressure very well. Kaila took the responsibility upon herself for the performance of the team.”

Ru was recognized as All-Suncoast Conference, All-FCSAA, and as a second-team All-American. A replica of her jersey with her name and No. 4 now hangs in the Health Center on the Winter Haven Campus.

“I’m most proud of the support that I’ve had from my coaches and teammates,” Ru said. “When I was a freshman, being an All-American was my dream. That doesn’t happen without my teammates.”

“She was such a coachable kid,” Barbosa added. “Kaila loved to be challenged. She wanted to know the ‘why’ behind everything. She loved to learn and was always looking to get better.”

In addition to her on-court accolades, Ru has also seen herself grow as a student. She’s set to graduate with close to a 3.0 grade-point average. Two of Ru’s most influential professors were Meriem Diouri, Mathematics, and Cindy Gundling, Psychology.

“I was honestly never a fan of school until I came here,” Ru explained. “The professors made me want to come to class. They were understanding of the balance it took when it came to being a student-athlete and what I needed to succeed in volleyball and school. The communication I had with my professors and my coaches was huge.”

Ru’s collegiate volleyball career will continue at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. After college, Ru hopes to play volleyball professionally in Europe.

“I’d like to have enough money to one day buy my mom and dad a house,” she said. “That’s my long-term goal.”

At Florida Atlantic, Ru plans to major in Sociology with a minor in either Psychology or Business. Ru would like to one day own a business. An often-ignored issue, Ru also hopes to find a way to help collegiate athletes with their mental health.

“Just now student-athletes are opening up about their mental health,” she explained. “It’s important to have someone to talk to. I hope to find a way to help fill that void.”

As Ru gets set to head south following a legendary Polk State career, she offered advice for other student-athletes.

“One thing I would say to student-athletes is to always put the student part first,” she said. “When I first got here, I was just an athlete. My professors and coaches always encouraged us to keep our head in the books and that’s what I did.”