Since getting sentenced to five years of probation for second-degree assault in July 2009, former Olympic and University of Hawaii volleyball star Kim Willoughby returned to her native Louisiana and did things she never thought she’d have a chance to do.

She completed her undergraduate degree; was a teacher at a prestigious all-girls school; coached club, high school and college volleyball; and started volleyball clubs for underprivileged kids.

Now Willoughby, 31, is getting ready to go back to playing volleyball.

A state Circuit Court judge Tuesday granted her request to end her probation early.

"I’m so happy because now I get to go back to my life and do the things that I wanted to do," Willoughby said.

Circuit Judge Karen Ahn said she generally doesn’t believe athletes should get special breaks in the criminal justice system. But she said she granted Willoughby’s request because she has satisfied all other conditions of her sentence, she has an offer to play professional volleyball in Russia starting later this month and the window of time athletes can earn a living playing their sports is small.

"And since you have these opportunities, and I know that for volleyball they often are not here in the United States, I’m going to make an exception this time," Ahn said.

Willoughby pleaded no contest to second-degree assault for punching another woman outside Pipeline Cafe in 2006. The woman suffered a broken nose and eye socket.