Kyla Smith could have easily stayed at home in British Columbia. Or she could have followed her high school friends to places like Colorado, Washington or Oregon.
Instead the senior outside hitter chose to play volleyball at MSU, and four years later, the Spartans must be mighty happy at her need for individuality.
The player head coach Chuck Erbe calls “the cornerstone” of his team is raking up the best numbers of her life. She hit a career best .275 with 3.12 kills per game this season and is second on the team in service aces with 13.
“I just love the feeling of being in a zone and feeling the adrenaline rush,” she said. “I like how it’s really competitive here and that feeling on being on top of the world, like no one can beat you.”
But Smith didn’t get there so easily. A few MSU assistant coaches recruited her out of Comox, British Columbia.
But the summer before she came to East Lansing, both assistant coaches who had enticed her into the MSU program left for other coaching ventures.
Dealing with the staff changes and a sinking confidence level, Smith’s on-court play wasn’t dominating in her freshman year. Smith said she was overwhelmed and it affected her confidence. She played in 17 matches on the season but only started three times.
She received more playing time her sophomore season, starting in seven matches as an outside hitter. But a pulled stomach muscle kept her sidelined for much of the season.
“She had a lot of adjusting to do in her first two years,” Erbe said. “She was playing with inconsistency, and she had all the talent, yet she just didn’t achieve.”
But Smith’s potential finally kicked in. During her junior season, she totaled 330 kills, a team high 250 digs, nine double-doubles and was ranked 10th in the Big Ten with 2.60 digs per game.
Smith capped off her outstanding season by being named MSU’s breakout performer of the year.
Now, with the departure of All-American Erin Hartley, Smith has moved to the right side - and the switch has made her even better.
“Going to the right side position really suits her skills,” Erbe said. “I think she really provides security for (junior setter) Nikki Colson, letting her know she can go to the right side and someone is there to get a kill for her.”
Smith has pounded 103 kills, a majority from Colson’s sets. With Smith on the right side and Sara Villwock and Kim Schram pounding kills from other ends of the floor, the Spartans have more attacking options.
Smith said playing for a couple of Canadian club teams, including the Team Canada Juniors, is what molded her style of team play.
“In Canada, you weren’t suppose to act cocky,” Smith said. “I’ve always felt my role on the team is to be stable and hold people together. I just know to be the big player when I need to and step back and support others when I need to as well.”
And with that attitude, Smith has completed the mold, Erbe said.
“She’s really the cornerstone of our team,” Erbe said. “Kyla never gets too high and never gets too low. Kyla is just very intensely competitive and a great giver to the rest of her teammates.
“Every team that aspires to be at a higher level needs to have a player like her.”
Smith’s teammates said they can tell she plays with intensity just by looking at her.
“Kyla is a real stable player,” senior defensive specialist Emily Engel said. “She’s not the type of player that’s crazy, but you can look in her eyes and see she’s focused.”
