Karolyn Kirby
| Karolyn Kirby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | American | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | June 30, 1961 (age 62) Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College / University | Utah State University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volleyball information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Setter / Outside hitter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 8 (national team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Karolyn Kirby (born June 30, 1961, in Brookline, Massachusetts) is a retired female beach volleyball player from the United States. She won the bronze medal at the 1997 World Championships in Los Angeles, California, partnering with Nancy Reno.[1] The pair also won the 1992 Olympic tournament, at which time beach volleyball was a demonstration sport.[2]
In her career in beach volleyball, Kirby won 67 tournaments and $680,000 in prizes.[3] 29 of her tournament wins were with partner Liz Masakayan.[3]
Kirby won numerous awards as a beach volleyball player. She was WPVA Most Valuable Player in 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1994.[3] She was WPVA Best Offensive Player in 1990 and WPVA Best Hitter in 1992.[3] She was WPVA Best Setter in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997.[3]
In 2004, Kirby was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.[4]
College[edit]
Kirby was twice an AIAW volleyball All-American at Utah State University (USU), leading the Aggies to consecutive top 10 national finishes from 1979 to 1981.[5] Kirby helped USU to a combined record of 106–38 (.736) over the three years that she played for the school, including a second-place finish in the 1979 AIAW Nationals at 35–5.[5] Additionally, Kirby was twice an Intermountain All-Conference selection (1980–81).[5]
Kirby was inducted into the Utah State University Hall of Fame in 1995.[5]
National team[edit]
Kirby was briefly on the United States women's national volleyball team in 1986, and was a teammate of Masakayan.[6]
Awards[edit]
- Two-time AIAW All-American
- Goodwill Games bronze medal (indoor) 1986
- Utah State University Hall of Fame 1995
- Four-time WPVA Most Valuable Player 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994
- WPVA Best Offensive Player 1990
- WPVA Best Hitter 1992
- Six-time WPVA Best Setter 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- Goodwill Games gold medal (beach) 1994
- World Championships bronze medal 1997
- International Volleyball Hall of Fame 2004
References[edit]
- ^ @barringer_a (April 4, 2019). "The 1997 World Championships". Beachmajors.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ "AVP 101: The Basics Of Beach Volleyball". Association of Volleyball Professionals. July 10, 2019. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Karolyn Kirby". Beach Volleyball Database. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Karolyn Kirby". International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Karolyn Kirby". Utah State University Athletics. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ Smith, Shelley (July 5, 1993). "Liz Masakayan and Karolyn Kirby". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
External links[edit]
- Karolyn Kirby at the Beach Volleyball Database
- International Volleyball Hall of Fame Profile
- Utah State University Hall of Fame Profile
- University of Saint Katherine Profile
- 1961 births
- Living people
- American women's beach volleyball players
- Kentucky Wildcats women's volleyball players
- Utah State Aggies women's volleyball players
- Sportspeople from Brookline, Massachusetts
- Competitors at the 1994 Goodwill Games
- Goodwill Games medalists in beach volleyball
- 20th-century American women