Kiera Van Ryk

Canadian women's volleyball player
Kiera Van Ryk
Van Ryk in 2019
Personal information
NationalityCanadian
Born (1999-01-06) January 6, 1999 (age 25)
New Westminster, British Columbia
HometownSurrey, British Columbia
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Spike302 cm (119 in)
Block288 cm (113 in)
College / UniversityUniversity of British Columbia
Volleyball information
PositionOutside hitter
Current clubVakıfBank S.K.
Number3 (national team)
Career
YearsTeams
2017–2019
2019–2020
2020–2021
2021–2024
2024–		UBC Thunderbirds
Volley Bergamo
PGE Rysice Rzeszów
Türk Hava Yolları S.K.
VakıfBank S.K.
National team
2015– Canada
Honours
Women's volleyball
Representing  Canada
NORCECA Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2019 San Juan Team
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Guadalajara Team
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Quebec City Team
Last updated: 12 August 2024

Kiera Van Ryk (born January 6, 1999) is a Canadian volleyball player. She is part of the Canadian women's national volleyball team.[1] She participated at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship, 2018 Women's Pan-American Volleyball Cup, and 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women's Challenger Cup.[2][3]

University career

Van Ryk played two seasons of U Sports women's volleyball for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds from 2017 to 2019.[4] She finished her rookie season by winning a Bronze medal at the 2018 U Sports Women's Volleyball Championship.[5] In her second year, she had an outstanding season as she won the Mary Lyons Award as the best U Sports women's volleyball player that year and won the Lieutenant Governor Athletic Award as the best female athlete in all of U Sports for the 2018–19 season.[6] With the Thunderbirds that year, she won a national championship as the team won the 2019 U Sports Women's Volleyball Championship and Van Ryk was named the Tournament MVP.[7]

Professional career

Van Ryk left university to become a professional athlete by signing with Volley Bergamo of the Italian Women's Volleyball League Serie A1 in 2019.[5] She left Volley Bergamo and returned to Canada in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] She then joined KS DevelopRes Rzeszów of the Tauron Liga for the 2020–21 season.[9] For the 2021–22 season, she played for Türk Hava Yolları SK of the Turkish Women's Volleyball League.[10]

Van Ryk joined Turkish club VakıfBank S.K. in 2024.[11]

Personal life

Van Ryk attended Surrey Christian School and has two older sisters, Jocelyn and Amy.[12] She is also an avid dog lover.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Kiera Van Ryk". Volleyball Canada. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  2. ^ "Roster released for the 2018 Women's FIVB World Championships". Volleyball Canada. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "Kiera Van Ryk". www.volleyball.world. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  4. ^ "Kiera Van Ryk - Women's Volleyball". UBC Thunderbirds. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Kiera Van Ryk signs professional contract in Italy". UBC Thunderbirds. July 3, 2019.
  6. ^ "Laval's Betts, UBC's Van Ryk capture inaugural Lieutenant Governor Athletic Awards Presented by Makadiff Sports". U Sports. May 2, 2019.
  7. ^ "Gold Medal Game: T-Birds flying again as national champions". U Sports. March 18, 2019.
  8. ^ "Home from Italy, Surrey volleyball player set for action with national team". Surrey Now-Leader. June 9, 2020.
  9. ^ "The Next Big Thing in Volleyball: Kiera Van Ryk". CEV Women's Champions League. February 19, 2021.
  10. ^ "TUR W: THY startle Fenerbahçe, new defeat worries Eczacıbaşı fans". worldofvolley.com. October 23, 2021.
  11. ^ WorldofVolley. "TUR W: VakıfBank Signs Kiera Van Ryk for the 2024/2025 Season". WorldofVolley. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Surrey's Van Ryk shines as one of Canada's best young volleyball players". Surrey Now-Leader. October 24, 2018.
  13. ^ "Thunderbird outside hitter Kiera Van Ryk is back leading the T-Birds after whirlwind summer with Volleyball Canada". The Ubyssey. January 25, 2019.