KYLIN MUNOZ
Published 11:54 pm Friday, November 30, 2007
It doesn’t take long to realize that Kylin Munoz can do incredible things on a volleyball court.
A comprehensive knowledge of the rules and tactics of the sport isn’t needed to admire one of Munoz’s did-she-really-jump-that-high hits. Munoz, a 6-foot-2 junior from Monroe High School, leaps so high and hangs in the air so long that she tends to draw a crowd.
It happened everywhere Monroe played this season, retiring Bearcats coach Dawn Hanson said.
“People just wanted to come watch,” Hanson said, referring to Munoz’s crowd-pleasing spikes.
But it’s wrong to label the well-rounded Munoz, who tallied 412 kills this season, as merely a prolific outside hitter. Before this past season she honed other areas of her game and became a more complete player. It certainly showed as Munoz helped Monroe place eighth Nov. 10 at the Class 4A state tournament in Kennewick.
For her attention-grabbing combination of airborne heroics and all-around skill, Munoz is The Herald’s 2007 All-Area Volleyball Player of the Year.
Munoz, who already has received interest from NCAA Division-I programs even though she won’t graduate from high school until 2009, was crucial to Monroe’s success, coach Hanson said. The heavily recruited hitter helped the Bearcats win their second consecutive Western Conference North Division championship.
Munoz was clearly primed for a fantastic fall.
“You could tell this year when she came back (to school) that she’s becoming that super well-rounded player that you want to have,” said Hanson. “She won’t be pigeonholed into being a great hitter. She wants to be called a great player.”
Munoz plays volleyball year-round. This past summer her Washington Volleyball Academy team placed third in the nation in its age division, an experience that boosted Munoz’s confidence, Hanson said.
By the time the prep season began, Munoz was a better hitter, serve receiver and defender, and she had developed a scorching jump serve.
Monroe went two-and-out at the state tourney in Munoz’s first two seasons, but this fall in their third straight appearance at state Munoz and the Bearcats won two matches and snared the first 4A trophy in program history.
They did it with a mix of friendship and intensity.
“Our team off the court, we’re all really good friends,” Munoz said. “But on the court there was more of a serious (feeling). Our goal was to place at state.”
Munoz had the most kills on a team that also featured New Mexico State University recruit Kelsey Brennan. Munoz also shined in other areas, finishing No. 2 on the team in digs (99), No. 3 in stuff blocks (42) and No. 5 in aces (31).
Her hitting worried opponents the most. Sometimes after matches opposing coaches asked Hanson, Monroe’s coach, what defensive strategy could work against the super-spiking Munoz, who has a 25-inch vertical leap.
Hanson’s not-so-encouraging answer: “You gotta grow. When she’s on fire and we can get her the ball where it needs to be, she’s really hard to stop.”
Kamiak, which placed fourth at the 4A state tourney, was the only team that effectively limited Munoz. The Knights used strong blockers, including 6-3 senior Jordan Keller, to somewhat stifle Munoz and beat Monroe three times.
Munoz said she hopes to nail down her college plans by the end of this school year. Volleyball is her only sport, although until the end of eighth grade she was hooked on basketball.
Munoz said she tried to rebel for a while — her parents both played volleyball — but eventually she gave up hoops to focus on volleyball.
“I miss basketball,” Munoz said, “but I just have so much fun with volleyball. I like it so much I wouldn’t change it.”
Munoz said she’d like to stay in the Northwest for college. Her mom, April Munoz, a Monroe assistant coach this past season, played for the University of Washington.
How far might Kylin Munoz eventually go? Anything seems possible for the youngster.
Said Hanson, “She could pretty much do whatever she wants to do.”
Contact Herald Writer Mike Cane at mcane@heraldnet.com. For more high school sports news, check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
