University of Tennessee Athletics
Senior Spotlight: Kylie Marshall
November 17, 2009 | Volleyball
Nov. 17, 2009
2009 Senior Spotlight Features: Carol Cheade | Chloe Goldman | Farren Powe
By Amber HardingUTLadyVols.com
If you were to ask most college students to juggle full-time internships on top of their regular coursework, they would say you were crazy. For one University of Tennessee volleyball player, however, this kind of schedule is nothing new. Except with her schedule, you would have to throw in volleyball matches, workouts, practices and travel. But she's not complaining.
Kylie Marshall epitomizes the idea of the student-athlete. She's a senior on the Lady Volunteer volleyball team and constantly impresses her coaches and teammates with her skill and dedication. Even though Marshall has not missed a single match in her entire college career, she still finds time to make the honor roll, pursue an advanced degree and land a job at a major accounting firm.
Since arriving in Knoxville from her hometown of Puyallup, Wash., in the summer of 2006, Marshall has been named to the Southeastern Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll each season. She graduated in May 2009 with a Bachelor's Degree in accounting with a concentration in finance and is currently pursuing a Master of Accountancy at UT. At just 21 years old, Marshall has already accomplished one of her major life goals - to land a career at a large accounting firm. After earning her Master's, she will work at Ernst & Young in Chattanooga, Tenn.
"My next goal would basically be to excel in the working world in what I like to do," Marshall said. "I want to make a difference for my company and be able to work my way up with Ernst & Young."
During her time in Knoxville, Marshall has played a crucial role on the Lady Vol volleyball team. UT Head Coach Rob Patrick described Marshall as "a stabilizing force." For the Lady Vol squad, defense and ball control are the most important elements of the game and Marshall serves as a double threat. Not only does the 5-foot-11 outside hitter shine with her hitting and net-play, but she is also an excellent defender. During her freshman year, she even spent some time as libero.
"She's a great passer and defender, somebody that can really control the ball well with her platform," Patrick said. "So she's been very important over her whole career to everything that we've done."
Although Marshall originally worked her way into the UT lineup as a passer, she is no slacker when it comes to front-row play, having recorded over 150 kills in 2009.
"Offensively, I feel like I've grown over the past four years, learning different shots and how to be an offensive weapon in more ways than just power," Marshall said.
As a senior, Marshall has stepped into a leadership role this season. While she sees herself as a leader, she believes she shares this role with the rest of her senior class.
"I feel like we all bring something different to the table," Marshall said. "We all have a little bit something different to offer to the team. And I feel like we are able to mesh all that together and bring good leadership to our team this year."
Patrick said Kylie acts as a silent leader because her teammates see how hard she works, both on and off the court.
"Whether it's academically or athletically, she's always pushing herself to be the best she can be," Patrick said.
Last summer, Marshall had a full-time internship with an accounting firm. Because she spent so much time at work, she often could not make it to the team's afternoon workouts. When a conflict occurred, Marshall voluntarily came to the gym for workouts at 7 a.m. before going to work. Even if she could not condition with the team, she made sure to fulfill her responsibilities.
"One of the things we talk about is being the hardest-working team out there," Patrick said. "She's somebody that embodies that with her whole life. And the team knows it."
Marshall's schedule is jam-packed. She has her days planned - almost to the minute - Patrick explained.
"She studies because she wants to get the best grade she can," Patrick said. "And she works out because she wants to be the best volleyball player she can. And then she wants this team to be the best it can be. So that kind of rubs off on her teammates."
Marshall is a classic example of a team player. Fellow senior Chloe Goldman, who has played with Marshall for four years, standing next to her in the back row as the team's starting libero for three of those seasons, describes her as the "role model" of the team.
"She really cares," Goldman said. "She goes hard every day, and she's one of our most consistent players."
Marshall even cites her teammates as her motivation to play well.
"I love playing for my teammates," Marshall said. "I'm playing to have fun and enjoying collegiate volleyball at the highest level."
Even with all of her successes, Marshall tends to share the credit. She acknowledges her teammates as her reasoning for playing hard, and she attributes her ability to stay healthy to her trainers and coaches. Marshall has played in 119 straight matches during her time at UT.
"You have to attribute that a lot to the weight room and our training staff," Marshall said. "They do a great job of keeping you healthy, and when you do have little aches and pains, they're able to fix it up."
Kylie Marshall is the unsung hero of the UT women's volleyball team. She tacitly guides her teammates through her textbook volleyball skills, her diligence in the weight room and her dedication to her education. And she does it all with remarkable humbleness. Her teammates look up to her, and her coaches admire her abilities and attitude. But most notably, she plays for her team, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to contribute to the Lady Vols' cause. And she never forgets to give credit to the people who have helped her along the way.
