Uncommitted Prospect Spotlight – Kirby Kliafas 2023 Libero/Setter
Throughout the club season, I will be rolling out some articles that are a little different than we have been writing for the past couple of months. We will still be doing our regular highlight articles on multiple athletes for…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThroughout the club season, I will be rolling out some articles that are a little different than we have been writing for the past couple of months. We will still be doing our regular highlight articles on multiple athletes for exposure, however I wanted to do some special articles on a few special athletes that we are getting to know quite well with Prep Dig TX. These athletes are special and deserve a few looks from colleges. This first article is with Miss Kirby Kliafas Kirby Kliafas 5'10" | S Cypress Ranch | 2023 State TX . She was picked because she was the floor general for one of the best high school teams in the nation this year and we at Prep Dig TX wanted the volleyball world to take notice with a more personal account of who she is. Without further ado, here is our article on Miss Kirby Kliafas Kirby Kliafas 5'10" | S Cypress Ranch | 2023 State TX .
Kirby Kliafas Kirby Kliafas 5'10" | S Cypress Ranch | 2023 State TX [2023] 5-10 Libero/Setter (HS: Cy Ranch/Club: Texas Tornados /Verbal: Uncommitted)
Kirby is currently ranked as the 100th best overall prospect in the 2023 class according to our Prep Dig Texas State Rankings. She is the captain of the ship that steers the offense for Cy Ranch and she also plays for the awesome Texas Tornados Volleyball program. I have watched Kirby since she was a young player playing up in older age groups and still standing out. Her athleticism is one aspect that you cannot ignore when you watch her battle in both the setter position and libero position. She is a great setter who has lead her high school team to greatness this year. Those who are in the know about this kiddo already know how great of a libero she is. Any team who picks her up as a libero next year for college will get a phenomenal leader who will keep her squad in the rally no matter what it takes. Her work ethic and desire to improve are unmatched in the gym. One aspect that college coaches will fall in love with is her volleyball IQ as it is off the charts.
This young lady is special and we are proud to have her in our State Rankings. We were able to ask Kirby some personal questions so that our readers could get to know her a little better and here is a little from the conversation:
Prep Dig TX: Why Volleyball? Why is it important to you? What do you love about it?
Kirby: I chose Volleyball because I grew up around the game and I literally had a crib in my mom’s office 2-days after I was born. As soon as I could hold a ball, I was trying to imitate the big kids that my mom coached. I started officially playing when I was 8 and that is where my passion and story began. I love the atmosphere, the competitiveness, the teamwork, the friendships, and the life lessons.
Prep Dig TX: Since you play two positions, tell me what you love about your position(s) on the court the most?
Kirby: Setter – I love being in control and running the court. I love getting to make the tough decisions when the game is on the line, and that my team can count on me.
Libero – I love anything defense and I enjoy out of system setting. I like reading attackers, getting first contact, and doing whatever I can to keep the ball off the ground to help us win.
Prep Dig TX: What are you looking for in a college program/coach?
Kirby: I want someone to continue to challenge me as a player. It is important to have a coach that believes in me, constantly pushes me to be my best, and can also love on me when I struggle.
Prep Dig TX: What does Leadership mean to you? How do you plan on becoming a better leader this season?
Kirby: Leadership means that my team can count on me to do my part. Leadership means not being afraid to swim against the current, even when it’s hard. I want my teammates and coaches to know that I will go to war for them. My goal this season is to not allow my competitiveness, or the vibe of the people around me get in the way of how I lead. To always talk and encourage, no matter the score or outcome.
Prep Dig TX: What are you looking forward to most this club season?
Kirby: Having an opportunity to Play for Bill Walton again. When I was 13, he coached our team to a silver medal at Girls Junior Nationals. He is the best technical coach I have ever had the privilege of playing for. He also coached my mom at the University of Houston and now he is coaching me.
Prep Dig TX: What do you think is your biggest obstacle this year compared to last season? How do you plan to overcome it?
Kirby: The past two years I played up so this season I will have to get use to a whole new group of players. I also have to be flexible because I have played every position, except for Middle Blocker. It is always a challenge to continuously switch positions each year, but it has also helped me to be a diverse player. I do feel like this has hurt me with recruiting because of covid and coaches have not had a chance to see me play one position for any length of time.
Prep Dig TX: What are three individual goals that you have for this club season?
Kirby:
1. Lead by example & inspire my teammates
2. Elevate my game at practice and be more consistent
3. Win another medal at nationals
Prep Dig TX: Tell me a time when you faced adversity in life and how you overcame it or a lesson you learned from it:
Kirby: My family moved my junior summer and I had to switch high schools and teams. At my previous High school, I started on varsity as a freshman, as a setter, and I received first team All-District honors both years. When I changed schools, I rarely got to set or play any backrow. I feel like my strength is ball-control, defense, serving, and setting, but I mainly hit on this team. I have always been a team captain and started so this was a new experience for me. I struggled at my new school because I did not start in one match as a setter and I was the second right side for this team, which was not where I felt like I could help the team overall. We had a really great team and I felt that we could have gone a lot farther in State, so I felt somewhat helpless. I was the new kid on the block, and I was just trying to find my place at the school and on this team, even though I knew a lot of people. This greatly affected me mentally and emotionally and I really struggled on whether I would return my senior season because of my experience. The lesson I learned was life isn’t always fair and you do not always get what you expect in life. Respect is earned and we constantly have to adapt to new roles. Therefore, after speaking to my family about the situation, I decided that it was my job to prove them wrong and to show them what I could offer this program, so I returned with a vengeance. I am so glad I did because I now have a great relationship with the coach, I am co-captain, and my team is currently sixth in the nation, second in Texas (District 6-A), and first in our district. I started the season as the starting libero and got switched to the starting setting position because this is what my team needed. I have embraced my new role on the team and my overall experience has taught me a lot.
Prep Dig TX: Name two people that have influenced you in volleyball the most.
Kirby:
1. My mom has been a major influence in my volleyball career and has provided me with many opportunities most kids don’t get.
2. Bill Walton because he pushes me just as hard as he loves on me and I am a better player today because of his knowledge of the game.
Prep Dig TX: What is something that a coach has told/taught you that lives in your head rent free?
Kirby: My Mom Taught me that being a good teammate is equally as important as being a good friend and that my job on the court is not to make friends, it is to push my teammates to be great players. Practice is not a popularity contest; it is survival of the fittest. You earn your position and playing time on the court, and one should not expect it. Everyone has a time in their career to be a cheerleader and a player, so it is important to understand your role.
Prep Dig TX: What other hobbies/interests do you have outside of volleyball?
Kirby: I love hanging out with family and friends, going shopping, playing with my dogs, and being goofy.
We have been getting to know Kirby quite well over the past few years and we think that her future is extremely bright. She is such a hard worker and has a great support system that teaches her the game and also life lessons through sport. It is my opinion that she will be a game changer for whichever school gives her a chance. She will elevate every aspect of your team in many aspects like in the weight room, watching game film, team chemistry, and of course on the court. She is a natural leader and just a wonderful person to know.
We will be publishing more articles daily to give the recognition to each athlete that has earned the right to be called a top Texas Volleyball Player. Stay tuned for more articles on your favorite athletes. If you have anyone you think we should watch out for or that you think have what it takes to be added to our database, please shoot me an email with some info at nov8vb@yahoo.com. Lastly, Thank you to everyone for all of the shout-outs on social media, tags, emails, direct messages, and most importantly…thank you for continuing to read out publication and support us as we strive to bring attention to the wonderful and amazing players of this great big state of ours!