Playing with Colussi Sirio Perugia, she won the bronze medal at the 2008–09 CEV Indesit Champions League, and she was awarded "Best Receiver".

During Kim's junior year, her mother was in a car accident that led to two strokes and paralysis from the waist down.

More tragedy struck after Kim's boyfriend was shot after an argument and died, and she admits that she was angry and fought often when she was young.

She was a three-time AVCA All-America honoree and was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Year in 2003.

She hit .373 in her final collegiate season to help the Rainbow Wahine to the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament national semifinals for the second consecutive year.

A court accepted a deferred guilty plea from Willoughby, which allowed the charges to be cleared from her criminal record if she met certain conditions.

[11] The incident occurred when Willoughby allegedly caused serious bodily injuries to a woman at Pipeline Cafe in Kakaako.

On September 11, 2009, it was announced that Willoughby was given a two-year suspension from the Italian Olympic Committee, to end on July 10, 2011.