Karolyn Kirby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | June 30, 1961 Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S. | (age 62)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
College / University | Utah State University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Volleyball information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Setter / Outside hitter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 8 (national team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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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]
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]
Kirby was briefly on the United States women's national volleyball team in 1986, and was a teammate of Masakayan. [6]