Seabreeze volleyball athlete Isabel Harris enjoys two different — but exciting lives — with her mom and dad

Isabel Harris has lived two full lives by merging two paths into one.

By Jeff Dawsey
| 8:00 a.m. June 8, 2017

Isabel Harris finished Top 5 in the area in aces, blocks, digs and kills last volleyball season with Seabreeze. Photo by Jeff Dawsey

Harris works on her spike game in a beach practice session with Larissa Maloney. Photo by Jeff Dawsey

Harris wants all of her matches to be intense toward the very end. File photo

Harris recently made this cherry chocolate loaf at her mother' s house. Courtesy photo

Harris has spent her entire life at the beach with volleyball and surfing. Courtesy photo

Harris currently trains Muay Thai under Caressa Kibler in Port Orange. Courtesy photo

Ormond Beach Observer
Sports

Before she was old enough to comprehend, Isabel “Lula” Harris’s parents, Michael Harris and Christine Kauffman, divorced when she was 2 years old. Despite their separation, Harris’s parents have teamed up — through split custody — to give her a lifestyle she says has only made her a better person.

While she’s with Michael— who calls her Lula — they take in nature on the beach, snowboarding or mountain biking. Lula also tends to be more outgoing with him.

It’s also because of that she’s become one of the best volleyball players in the area. He began taking her to the beach to watch him play before she could correctly pronounce words. Now a soon-to-be senior, Michael Harris sees skills in Lula’s game that he believes will push her past his talents one day.

Pull quote: “Every parent’s goal is to want their kids to be better than they were, and she’s (Isabel Harris) on course to be a way better volleyball player than I ever was.”

MICHAEL HARRIS

“Every parent’s goal is to want their kids to be better than they were, and she’s on course to be a way better volleyball player than I ever was,” Harris said. “She was very lucky. There are a lot of women and men who embraced her and showed her things out there and gave her pointers.”

Last year, he asked Blue Crush Volleyball Academy coach and former pro tour player Larissa Maloney to train Harris for beach volleyball. After nearly a year together, Maloney says she’s satisfied with how her pupil has increased in speed, endurance and vertical leaping ability.

Maloney was most delighted with her pupil, when they teamed up to win the Sandbox Volleyball Tour Spalding Open AA championship on Sunday, May 7, in Cocoa Beach. The two trailed late in the final set.

“I thought that was the perfect moment and test for her,” Maloney said. “I looked at her and said, ‘Are we going to do this?’ and I saw doubt in her face, so I just motivated her. She served three straight aces to win the game. That was a shining moment.”

Split personality

While with mom — where Harris is either Isabel or “Bug” — she takes on more of Christine’s friendly-but-bashful personality. At her house, Harris frequently bakes, gardens, and they often go running, visit local attractions, art galleries and spend time on cruises.

Harris credits her mom’s independent attitude for inspiring her work ethic. Christine, a nursing supervisor at Memorial Hospital, enters many local running events, and she owns an art company, Coastal Pallet Art.

While playing both beach and indoor volleyball as a student, Harris also trains in Muay Thai and works at Genovese's Italian Café.

“She's accomplished and so strong,” Harris said. I want to be like that.”

Together, Michael and Christine have birthed a well-rounded hard worker and student-athlete who is grateful her parents allow her to live two full, happy lives — at once.

“I feel it has been great for me,” Harris said. “They’ve never had a bad relationship or fought in front of me. They even agreed on my restrictions when I was younger. They have a great relationship and support me together.”