Senior Eryn Kirby, a three-year returning outside hitter for the Hornets’ volleyball team, was voted the Most Improved Female Athlete by The State Hornet this semester.

In 2010, Kirby had 122 game points, 388 kills and a hitting percentage of .147 percent. This season, her hitting percentage has improved by .019 percent and her total game points has gone up by 25 points. But she has always been a team player.

“She is also a wonderful teammate because she gets along with everyone and she always treats everybody with respect,” said Hornet teammate Anna Schoener.

Kirby, a business major, was a Big Sky Conference Player of the Week this season. In the Big Sky standings she was ranked fifth overall in points and sixth overall in kills. She was also named to the Big Sky all-academic team for three consecutive years.

Kirby said winning this award was really special because there are a lot of fall sport athletes and they all get better every year. She said any individual award really gets attributed back to the team because volleyball is such a team sport. Kirby said no player could improve without their teammates getting better as well because teammates push each other to grow as a player.

She believes her continued education in volleyball throughout the years and experience have aided in her performance this season. Kirby said she worked hard in the spring and the summer to get in good shape in preparation for the season. The team went to the Broad Field House over the summer using the workouts the late strength and conditioning coach Terence Brooks gave to the team. Overall she tried to be more aggressive when attacking and in every other aspect of the game.

Kirby’s sister Aly said growing up her sister worked really hard to improve in all areas of the game and that some of her methods were interesting.

“She would rub a balloon on her head to create static electricity and stick the balloon on the ceiling,” Aly Kirby said. “Then she would practice her approach and “spike” the balloon.”

Kirby said some of her highlights from this season were beating Northern Colorado at Colberg Court and Eastern Washington in their gym and going to the Big Sky Tournament. The Hornets have never beaten Eastern Washington in Washington before. The last time Kirby played in the Big Sky Tournament was when the team made it her freshman year.

“It was a really fun season and it was a good way to end volleyball for me,” Kirby said. “I love this team, it was a great group of girls and everyone worked really hard.”

Comments about Eryn Kirby:

Breanne Menees, defensive specialist: “Eryn is a great player because she is dependable on the court. You can always rely on her to sort of clean up the play and help her teammates out. She is an aggressive player with a strong arm swing. She is also a wonderful teammate because she gets along with everyone.”

Karen Kirby, mother: “We couldn’t be prouder that she accomplished her goal and had a successful four years at Sac State. We have loved watching her play volleyball and improve her game over the past ten years – we’ve made great memories and had a great ride.”