Outside hitter Carly Kan is in the last year of what has been an amazing volleyball career so far at Missouri. Coming all the way Honolulu, Hawaii, Kan has had many athletic achievements, some even before playing for the Tigers.
In Honolulu, Kan attended Punahou High School. She was named Hawaii state championship MVP in 2012 after taking her high school to a Division I state title. Following the championship win, the team was ranked No. 9 in the country. For club volleyball, she played with Kuikahi’s Wahine RoShamBo team at Junior Nationals and was named to the USA Volleyball High Performance Girls Youth A2 Team as a libero.
“It’s a funny story; I got into playing volleyball by hanging out with my friends,” Kan said. “They all played volleyball, so I decided to play with them, and at first I didn’t like it. I thought it was hard.”
Kan is passionate about her choice to move to Missouri, taking the next step in her athletic career and playing college volleyball.
“I went on several recruiting visits to schools in the Midwest, and I fell in love with Mizzou,” Kan said. “I knew it’s where I wanted to be, I loved the family atmosphere, and I just followed my heart.”
Her career at Mizzou started off strong; as a freshman in 2013, Kan was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year and led the SEC in hitting for all outside hitters. Her sophomore year, she matched the Mizzou volleyball record for double-doubles in a season, and finished with double digit kills in 25 out of 33 matches. As a junior, she became the fifth Tiger in the program’s history to have 1,000 career kills, digs and points.
Head coach Wayne Kreklow admires Kan’s efforts on the court.
“Carly is definitely the heart and soul of the team,” Kreklow said.
Not only does she gain a huge amount of respect from her coach, but Kan has also earned the respect of her fellow teammates.
“I look up to Carly; she is a vocal leader, she works hard, and she reaches out,” freshman Andie Hanus explained. “She sets the example.”
Teammate Riley Sents agreed.
“Carly Kan is a great leader,” Sents said. “She has great attitude and helps on and off the court.”
Kan is happy with her role on the team.
“I’m glad the girls respect me on the team, that is something that sometimes leaders don’t have,” Kan said. “Knowing they can look up to me, that’s just a great opportunity for me to show that we may not be perfect, but we’re are going to work hard and I can help them get through this.”
As this is Kan’s last year in a Missouri uniform, she is looking to reach for the stars with her team.
“This is my last season, I want to help everyone reach their full potential, try to get the team to where it can be,” Kan said. “I want to bring out the best in people and leave it better than it was when I started.”
Besides trying to go out with a successful season, Kan is reflecting on her time in the program and every moment she spent in Missouri.
“The coaches and girls have changed me; I am savoring every moment,” she said. “All my years here have been special, I appreciate all that I have had, I’m not taking it for granted, I want to leave here feeling good.”
_Edited by Theo DeRosa | tderosa@themaneater.com_
