By Dan Ninham
There are two NCAA D1 volleyball teams in Minnesota. One is the Minnesota Gophers and the other is the University of St. Thomas Tommies. Tommie volleyball began its 23rd season under head coach Thanh Pham and the Tommies played the Gophers on August 31 at the Golden Gopher Invitational. This is the University of St. Thomas’ first full season of NCAA D1 postseason-tournament eligibility.
Among the 14 upperclasswomen is 5-11 senior Keya Luta Win Hunt. Her full first name is Keya Luta Win which means Red Turtle Woman in Lakota. She is enrolled in the Ho-chunk Nation of Wisconsin but is also Leech Lake Ojibwe and Oglala Lakota.
“One of my proudest accomplishments is competing as a Division I volleyball player,” said Hunt. “Reaching this level reflects years of commitment, discipline, and resilience, both on and off the court.”
While at Breck School in Golden Valley, MN, Hunt was recognized as the IMAC Player of the Year. “In college I have continued to grow as both an athlete and a teammate, contributing to a program that is steadily building success through our collective hard work,” said Hunt.
Hunt has developed her academic and athletic goals toward team goals and when achieved she and they add higher order goals.
“Being an athlete, you will always be a student of the game, and a lot of that knowledge comes from your coaches,” said Hunt. “Listening to what your elders have to say is a key part to being successful. Sometimes their advice may be hard to hear, but having respect for their knowledge and guidance will set you apart from those who don’t.”
“Playing any sport, especially volleyball, you need to put yourself out there and be vocal, said Hunt.” Being brave and pushing yourself past my limits socially and physically definitely made my game better but gave me more confidence. My grandpa called me ogichidaa-kwe meaning a resilient strong woman. I think this very much applies to practice and competing.”
“Last season we came in third in our conference, which was a huge jump from past years. This season we have the opportunity to participate in post-season competition which we are excited to pursue. Improving our team in every aspect of the game is always a goal of ours, but we do this by strengthening our on and off the court relationships, having intentionality and focus in practice, and holding each other to higher expectations,” added Hunt.
Hunt is a Public Health major and plans to graduate in the spring of 2026. She also plans to go to grad school for Healthcare Administration after college and pursue a career in that field.
Oftentimes a coach is a mentor to the athlete. This is also the case with Hunt and her head coach.
University of St. Thomas head volleyball coach Thanh Pham has coached Hunt the past three seasons. “In the beginning of my collegiate career our team was making the transition from NCAA Division III to Division I,” said Hunt. “Through this change I saw how much the coaches had to change and it inspired me to continue to follow their lead and push myself to change as well.” “Keya has been an adored member of this program,” said University of St. Thomas head volleyball coach Thanh Pham. “Her effort on the court has been remarkable. Off the court, her humor keeps everyone on their toes. Her ability to run our offense and keep her teammates involved have directly lead to our growth as a program. I’m excited to share in her journey and savor one more season together.”
Hunt has words of wisdom for the up and coming young native athletes. She said, “My advice to young Indigenous players off the court is to always be authentic and genuine. During my own journey as a volleyball player, I rarely played with or against other Indigenous athletes. At times, I felt different because I didn’t look the same or because I carried myself in ways that reflected my culture. For a while, I hid parts of who I was, worrying that others wouldn’t understand or value them.”
“Over time, I realized that my identity and perspectives are strengths. Being true to who you are not only brings value to your wellbeing but also your game,” added Hunt.
She continued to talk about encouraging young native athletes. She said, “On the court, my advice is to stay open to change. Growth as an athlete requires adaptability. Change can look like adjusting your technique when asked by a coach, stepping into a new role for the good of the team, or shifting your mindset in the middle of competition.”
“The ability to embrace change is one of the most important skills for becoming a stronger athlete,” added Hunt.
Keya Luta Win Hunt bio: https://tommiesports.com/sports/wvball/roster/keya-luta-win-hunt/10793
UST 2025 Volleyball Schedule: https://tommiesports.com/sports/wvball/schedule.
