Kyra Porter '18 Recruiting Profile

My name is Kyra Porter.  I was born and raised in Minnetonka, Minnesota until freshman year when we moved to southern California for my father's work.  For the last three years, I've been a MB/H starter for Woodbridge HS Varsity and A4 Volleyball Club.  This past year, I also trained for RS and played MB or RS with A4 Volley during tournaments as our team needed. 

I've always been athletic.  At age 5, I started sports with Karate.  At age 12 I earned my black belt and competed in form and sparring.  My martial arts training taught me many things I use today for volleyball including:  discipline, focus, jumping, and how to read an opponent.   I am a "learner".  I listen, practice and apply what my coaches teach me.  I've also competed in softball, swimming and beach volleyball (2 years).   It was my freshman year though when I KNEW volleyball was where my heart was. 

A couple of fun facts about me:  I've pulled a single engine airplane by myself for a Special Olympics fundraiser, I've done the "Minnesota Winter Plunge", I know how to put siding on a house and build an igloo, and I've broken a concrete brick with my bare arm. 

I've personally experienced several life challenges growing up while my mom beat cancer - 3 times.  It was last year when I needed to help her with her IV's, that nursing (CRNA), fitness, or physical therapy became the areas I wanted to explore / study in college. 

Outside of volleyball, I love music and I paint to relax.  I try to keep involved with my church and was able to volunteer over the last three summers for mission trips.   As a student and athlete, I understand what it means to continue playing, living, and laughing even when presented with challenges - I would bring that encouragement and strength to the court, to my teammates and coaches and to the game.

My Philosophy: "Play hard, with passion, and for your teammates, but never forget to laugh and have fun.

~ Kyra Porter

For me, volleyball is more than the game itself.  Here's an example of why its more than the game....

In June 2017, our A4 Volleyball team won the Bronze Medal for 17 Premier Gold at the AAU Junior National Championships in Florida.   It is not the excitement of the win I will remember most though...but how we did it.  We were 2 players short when we arrived.  On day 1, I became our only MB due to other's injuries; on day 2, we were down to a core team of 7, with our key Setter out. Our team had to dig deep, stay encouraged, and fight hard for every point.  No one gave up, even our DS played Opp for rotation.   Its not the win I will remember, but the team spirit, encouragement, support for each other, and believing "we can do this" that will always be an example in my life of how to play and how to live - with all that you have to give.