Kyp has been part of the sport of volleyball in one way or another since 1985, when he first picked up the sport in middle school in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York. After years of playing and numerous injuries, coaching seemed to be the safer option in continuing to be a part of the sport he loved. Along the way, he's mentored countless high-level athletes, including NCAA II All-American Cheneta Robinson (nee Morrison) at the University of Indianapolis, Dan Gwitt, current head coach at Miami (OH) and Matt Anderson, current USA Men's National Team player. His coaching stops included rebuilding high school programs in New York, Indiana and California. He also was a club coach in those three states, finishing in the top ten in nearly forty tournaments over the years. His final collegiate coaching stop was at NCAA Division I Missouri State University (2010) under the tutelage of Melissa Stokes, a fellow alum of San Diego State. Kyp left coaching to stay home with his children, Kendall (2010) and Owen (2012), and has been officiating since the fall of 2014. Currently, he is a Junior National referee in USA Volleyball, A PAVO State level collegiate referee and a National Line Judge, working the NCAA Division I Final Four in 2019 (Pittsburgh) and the spring of 2021 (Omaha) during the pandemic. He is also part of the PAVO National Rating Team, conferring National Line Judge certifications nationally on an annual basis. He also trains line judges across the country, representing the Big Ten Conference as well as PAVO. Currently, you can find Kyp with a whistle or a flag in the Big Ten, the ACC, the SEC, the MVC, Conference USA, the OVC, the Horizon League, the Big East and numerous Division III and NAIA programs on the women's side of the game. On the men's side, he whistles in the MIVA, the WHAC and the River States Conferences. Recently, Kyp had the honor of being the first referee for the Men's NAIA National Championship match in May of 2025. He also finds time to stay closer to home to referee high school matches for both the girls and the boys in the state of Indiana, where he calls home.

Melissa is both a player of the sport and an ultimate fan of all things volleyball. She spent her club years playing at Circle City in Indianapolis, winning a 17 Open National Championship while being named a H.S. All American. After high school she played in the Big Ten at Indiana University, earning All-Big Ten honors three times, as well as being named to the AVCA All-Mideast Region team. She has a soft spot for middle blockers being one herself and understands how incredibly demanding it is both physically and mentally (the ultimate selfless position). Now she spends her time around volleyball scouting, coaching and watching her two young daughters play. Melissa's goal as a scout is to work diligently to cover every young lady who wants to play at the next level and has the drive to match that goal, whether it is NAIA or Division 1. She spends the rest of her time as a pharmacist with her family of four in southern Indiana. 📲Make sure to follow along and tag her on Instagram at @abovethenetvolleyball