Kyra Van Kan

With championship season underway, Sarah Detwiler sits down with Tennessee women’s golf standout Kyra Van Kan on this week’s Everything Orange podcast. Fresh off an All-SEC Second Team selection and a breakout sophomore season, Van Kan reflects on Tennessee’s historic SEC Championship run, the confidence this team has built, and the pressure moments that helped shape the Lady Vols throughout the year.

The two also discuss the chemistry within the program, the competitive bond between teammates, and the leadership head coach Diana Cantú brings to the team. Looking ahead, Van Kan previews Tennessee’s NCAA Regional appearance and explains how the SEC title has prepared the Lady Vols for postseason play.

Beyond golf, the sophomore opens up about her journey from South Africa to Rocky Top, adjusting to college golf in the United States, and what it means to wear the Power T while representing Tennessee on the national stage.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Probably one of the biggest achievements to be a part of in my whole life. It's huge to be a part of that history and to be under Coach D's leadership and the whole energy and the whole environment is just amazing here at Rocky Top. And I really couldn't be more thankful and grateful, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:24

Hey y'all, welcome back to the Everything Orange podcast. And before I get too far ahead of myself, I have to just note this off the top. We have an SEC champion in the podcast studio with us today. A couple weeks ago, the women's golf team went down to Florida and took care of business, bringing home the first SEC championship title in program history. It was an unforgettable week for these young women, and one in particular had a dominant performance from start to finish, especially in match play, where in the championship round, she had the clinching putt to win the title and bring home the trophy to Knoxville. So she's here to talk about the historic week with us and what the past two seasons have meant to her being here on Rocky Top. So please welcome to the Everything Orange podcast, Kyra Funkan. Kyra Funkan, welcome to the Everything Orange podcast.

SPEAKER_00 1:21

Thank you so much for having me.

SPEAKER_01 1:23

We are so excited to have you on. There's a really, really big reason why we are having you on right at this moment. But I'm gonna bury the leave just a little bit and get into some other questions before we talk about the fantastic week that we had a couple weeks ago for Tennessee Women's Golf. But have some fun get to know you questions so the fans can learn a little bit more about you in about 60 seconds. So we'll see how much we can rapid fire go through these. So my first question for you is what is your go-to snack during tournament week?

SPEAKER_00 1:53

Um, okay, I love eating bananas on the golf course. It's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 1:57

You can't go wrong. Can't go wrong with that. If you could play one dream golf course tomorrow, where would you go? That's a tough one.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

I mean, probably like Pebble Beach. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 2:10

What's the most difficult thing about being a golfer that people don't realize?

SPEAKER_00 2:15

Probably that it's really time consuming and also you can never perfect the sport like you're always working towards a goal.

SPEAKER_01 2:23

Right.

SPEAKER_00 2:24

And yeah, it's it's a lot of hours of practice and it can be pretty mentally draining if you're not happy about something. But there's a lot of positives to it, too.

SPEAKER_01 2:35

Yes. Which teammate would survive the longest on a reality TV show?

SPEAKER_00 2:42

That's actually so funny. A reality TV show. Um, I mean, maybe like uh KP or Sophie Christopher. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:56

I'll throw in um an honorable mention too to Bibi because when we went on our Vol Leaders trip last year, she went, that girl went all over the world to get to Sao Paulo in Brazil. Like she had she was in the air, she had a land in like Dubai, and she got there like two days late. But she's great, she has a lot of patience. That is so true. She has a lot of patience, yes. What's the funniest thing that's happened during a round or during a practice?

SPEAKER_00 3:23

Oh wow. Um, probably that a bird like did its business on my shoulder during a round. That's good luck, it is good luck, yeah. That's probably the funniest thing, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:37

If you weren't playing golf, what sport do you think you would compete in?

SPEAKER_00 3:40

Um I grew up playing tennis. So and I feel like I've always been pretty good at tennis. Obviously, not as good as the Vol Women's tennis team, but um, yeah, I've always really liked tennis, so probably doing that, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

What's your favorite hole at Tennessee's home course?

SPEAKER_00 3:58

Um I I really like um number four, it's it's really tricky, par five. Um, like you don't hit drive off the T box, you normally hit a three-word just to like lay it up. Um, and it's really tight the layup as well. Okay. Like you have water on the left and then Obi on the right, and it's a nice sweatshot into the green as well.

SPEAKER_01 4:22

What's one golf superstition or routine that you have?

SPEAKER_00 4:25

Yeah, I always call my parents before the round. Um I always make sure I have a T in my hair. And um Yeah, I think that's pretty much it. Always make sure I have all the essentials as well, like some water and some snacks. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:42

If you could instantly improve one part of your game forever, what would it be?

SPEAKER_00 4:47

Probably um my driver and just hit straight drives all the time. All the time. Long, powerful straight drives.

SPEAKER_01 4:56

I'm sure so many people listening to this would also agree with that. They just want to hit them long and straight.

SPEAKER_00 5:01

That's it.

SPEAKER_01 5:02

What is the best piece of golf advice you've ever received?

SPEAKER_00 5:06

Yeah, probably um that golf is just a sport and it's just something that I do, and it's not really I mean, yes, it is my life, but I shouldn't make it my whole life, and I've still got you know my family and friends that love me and it's just something that I love to do, really.

SPEAKER_01 5:25

So you're more than just golf, yeah, than I didn't know. Exactly. Outside of golf, because you're chira. Yeah. Well, I want to talk about the 2026 season recap because what an incredible season you have had, this program has had. But before I get into any of that, you were just announced the all SEC second team, which is super exciting. What did that mean to you when you heard the announcement?

SPEAKER_00 5:50

Yeah, I mean, obviously it's a great achievement and something that I've been really working towards um ever since I got here. So um I'm very proud of it and proud of the hard work that I've done, and you know, all everything that I've done has all been for a reason, and yeah, I'm very, very happy with that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:10

You had a stellar sophomore season for the Lady Vols, consisting of 15 rounds of par or better, a 71.35 scoring average, nine rounds in the 60s, and four top 10 finishes. When you look at the consistency that you've played with this year, where do you feel like what part of your game do you feel like has improved the most to be able to see this translate into your sophomore season?

SPEAKER_00 6:34

Yeah, I think you know, the coaches and the whole coaching staff have just been incredible. Um, they've really helped me to grow and mature as a as a player on the team. And, you know, they've really just helped me with my golf IQ and like really just course management because I feel like um previously that's where I made a lot of mistakes is just like, you know, careless mistakes off the T-Box or just like taking the wrong club on the wrong hole. Um, so really just trying to limit the small mistakes because I think I've always like had the game, um, but just being smarter about everything. Um, but yeah, generally I think that my ball striking has improved a lot and the wedges have certainly improved a lot. Um yeah, the coaches have done an amazing job with me and keeping me accountable over like being really precise of my wedge numbers. Okay. And so I think I've gotten a lot better in those aspects, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:33

Looking specifically at just the 2026 calendar year that we're in so far, you also had your first career win ever at the FAU Paradise Invitational where you posted a dominant 10 under par to also help Tennessee win the team title. How would you describe what that first career win felt like for you?

SPEAKER_00 7:54

Yeah, it was probably one of the best days. Well, it yeah, close in in the individual career, but it was it was an amazing day. Um, I mean, there was a lot of drama that happened at the tournament because like on round one at the tournament, I was warming up and like the ground, obviously we're just coming out of winter, and the ground was still really hard, and I tweaked my wrist a little bit, so I was like stressing before the round because I was thinking like, oh my gosh, maybe I'm not even gonna play. Um but luckily I was okay and like uh just rapped a lot and it was able to like stay in possession and I was okay and managed to play really, really well. And honestly, I think that took a lot of pressure off of me because of that. Um, but really I just I love the golf course and yeah, we we just love playing in Florida, honestly.

SPEAKER_01 8:52

Yeah, no, Florida is a um a special state for the Lady Vols, and a lot of good things happen when we go down and play in Florida for sure. If you could describe this season and this team in one word, what would it be and why?

SPEAKER_00 9:05

Um, well, I mean, I would say we are special, we are a really special team, and we have so much love and encouragement for one another, and I think truly you can't find that anywhere else. Like it's truly unmatched. Um, yeah, we're all incredibly supportive of one another, we're on the same page, and we're all working towards a common goal.

SPEAKER_01 9:28

So I will get to the part of the season now that was incredibly special, like you mentioned, um, and the reason for it, because you played a huge role in this team going down to Florida for the SEC championship tournament. But before we get into the breakdown of the week and how it all went, can you set the stage for everybody as to what an SEC golf tournament looks like? Because each round, well, I guess you could say the first half and the second half of the week look different. And so what how you start out playing and then kind of how you finish playing, what the breakdown there looks like for you all.

SPEAKER_00 10:08

Yeah, I mean, an SEC golf championship is a really long week. Um, probably one of the biggest weeks in college golf. Um, so yeah, like we get there and normally have a travel day. Um, the next day is a practice round. Um so it normally takes about five hours to play the practice round. It's just working out and mapping out the golf course, and then you practice afterwards. And then following that, you have three rounds of stroke play. So um you have to get into the top eight to obviously seed yourself and uh get a spot into the match play. And then you have three rounds of match play. Um, and the first and second rounds of match play are 36 holes, so they're on the same day. Yes. Um, so yeah, it's it's an extremely long week. Um so we have to be very like accountable of, you know, obviously our recovery and our rest. And I think we did a great job of that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

Yeah, I'd say so. Um so that's a that's a great segue into breaking down the week because I think it is important that we note that every team plays those first three rounds, and then from there it goes to quarterfinals, semifinals, and then the finals. Yeah. Um, so let's insert Tennessee into all of this because heading into the SUC Championship week, Tennessee rate eight ranked 18th nationally. And after Friday, day one of competition, the team was tied for 10th place after posting a four over par 284. What was the message to the team after day one to stay composed, stay locked in, and know that you still had a lot more competition before the final eight were determined going into match play?

SPEAKER_00 11:48

Yeah, I think after round one, you really just want to see where you're at. And we had like a good team discussion afterwards, and you know, our head coach, Coach D always sets us on the right track and you know gets us to the mindset of which we want to be and what we really need to focus on. And I think round two is you know, it's moving day, so um, there's more pressure off of you. So um, yeah, I feel like I played a lot better that day, but every everyone in the team played their part. And um, I mean, Bibi had an amazing birdie put on on the last round of SECs to get us a spot into the match play. So yeah, everyone did a great job.

SPEAKER_01 12:28

I have to shout out your freshman, Madison Messer, too, because she showed no nerves in her atmosphere. Yeah, she played amazing, she played unbelievable, and she earned a team best two under par, 68 in round one. How impressive was Madison's performance, not just in that first day, but for the whole week and being able to contribute in a big way for this team.

SPEAKER_00 12:50

Yeah, I mean, she has just been a solid rock for all of us. Um, she's such an amazing, natural, talented player. Um, I think everyone in the team is inspires to be like her. I mean, she's so calm out there and she's just wonderful to watch on the on the golf course. I I really enjoy playing golf with her as well. And um, yeah, I I can't wait to see, you know, what else she does and you know, with her career while she's here at Tennessee because I mean she's only a freshman. Right. And she has achieved an immense amount of things already. So I can't wait to see what the future opens for her.

SPEAKER_01 13:26

You were key to Tennessee's success on Saturday as well. The team posted five under par, a 275, which marked a nine-stroke improvement from Friday's opening round performance. What do you think helped click for that team on Saturday that you guys were able to do so well?

SPEAKER_00 13:42

Um, I mean, we had like a team chat before the round, and we were like, you know, everyone, let's just fight today. It's moving day, give it your role. And I think I have like a way of like I need to like settle more into the round. So, like once I got round one out of the way, then I was able to fully be myself and to have a couple of free swings out there and and to play a lot better, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:07

Yeah, and play a little bit more with confidence because you got that first one under your belt, and it's like, okay, now I know how everything feels, and now I can go out there and, like you mentioned, play free.

SPEAKER_00 14:16

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 14:16

So heading into day three, Tennessee was tied for eighth place and needed a top eight finish to advance to match play, like you talked about. And thanks to another standout performance from Madison, once again the team propelled into sixth place to finish stroke play. Yeah. When you officially earned a spot in match play, did the energy shift for this group? Did the mindset shift for this group? What was what was the morale like going into match play?

SPEAKER_00 14:39

We were so excited, so energetic. And our team is amazing at match play. We um did like a Lady Volk Cup, sort of just for practice before we played SEC. So we'd like to play against each other. Okay. Um, and I think that was really, really helpful going into SECs, and that's kind of what gave us that like kind of mindset, like aggressive mindset that like, okay, now we're ready to have some fun and to, you know, beat some people.

SPEAKER_01 15:09

Yeah, and what did you ever? Because now that we're in match play, you had your quarterfinals against Oklahoma, which you took care of business pretty easily, being them four to one, but you had to turn around that same day and play your semifinals match against Texas AM. How were you guys able to regroup so quickly and lock back in for a second time in what I'm sure was a long day in order to secure a spot in the championship round?

SPEAKER_00 15:35

Yeah, I think this team, we really just have a lot of fight in us. And um honestly, we took everything very seriously. Like we had no doubt that we like were gonna make it through. Like we were not gonna let anyone beat us. And we just took the day very seriously. Like we had a light meal before round two started, and then we were just like, okay, I'll see you out there. I'll because we always wave at each other on the golf course. Um, I think also just keeping that energy up and that enthusiasm, the other teams would see that, and they would obviously feel a little bit threatened. Right. Um, because of yeah, how much care we have for one another and how positive our energy is.

SPEAKER_01 16:18

So now the day has come and the number 18 ranked Tennessee Lady Vols are going up against the number eight Auburn Tigers in the championship round with an SEC championship on the line. Yeah. What emotions were you feeling, were the team feeling as you head into this final round of the tournament?

SPEAKER_00 16:40

Yeah, I mean, I don't think anyone on the team was nervous at all because um I think we weren't really favored to win. Like we were seen as the underdogs coming in. Um, and I think that's where their mistake was. They really overestimated us. And um I don't think they expected what we had in store for them. So um, yeah, I'm really proud of the fight that we had that day, and we knew like we had the self-belief, and we knew that we could pull this thing off. And yeah, I'm so proud and so glad that we did. Yeah, it's it was an incredible moment, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:20

So I want you to set the scene for me because when I tell you, like down in our office downstairs, every TV was turned on to the SEC network. We were following you guys all morning. There was so much excitement in the building on campus for what we were watching unfold, which was history. Yeah. So when the round was tied up, two to two, it all came down to you.

unknown 17:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:46

No pressure, right? You have a lot of pressure in this meeting. And after hole 16, the lead was only one stroke for you. What do you remember about how you were feeling heading into the 17th hole?

SPEAKER_00 17:58

Yeah, I mean, I had lost the 16th hole, um, which was okay. I mean, I was still one up going into the 17th hole. And so obviously it's her turn to play first. So she hits a three-word off the T-Box, and I pull out my driver, and I was just gonna be very aggressive on the hole. And I turned to my assistant coach, Coach Anna Newell, and I said, like, I'm making birdie here. And she just turned to me and she was like, Okay, let's do it. So um my opponent hit a great shot. She hit it to about eight feet, seven, eight feet. Um, and her team was going crazy. So obviously it it's kind of hard to just like block out that noise and focus back on what you need to do, you know. Um, but you know, my coach and I we worked out the shot really well. We had a great number. She knew that my arms were a little bit pumped because of all the adrenaline, and uh yeah, I knew I was gonna hit a little bit further, so we we um went back a club and I hit less club and hit a great shot to about three feet. And in that moment I was so pumped because I knew like we're gonna get this, we're gonna win the SEC championship. And um she just happened to miss her putt, and obviously there was a lot of pressure on that three-footer, but I I knew like I put these every day. This is what I practice for, and this is I'm doing this for my team and for for Tennessee. And yeah, when I made that put, so much relief I didn't know what to do for myself. I just dropped the putter and I ran straight to the team, and it was just an incredible moment to share with them, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:37

There was so much intensity watching that final hole, and it was so impressive for you, being only a sophomore, to have to follow up your opponent, and she made some great shots on that hole. I did, yeah. But you just said, Oh, you can do that, watch me do it too. No problem. A little bit better, just a little bit better, and then you had the title clinching putt to win Tennessee Lady Vol Women's Golf, their first SEC championship title. To have that moment with your team, to celebrate with them, like does it feel almost like a fever dream? Like, don't pitch me, don't wake me up because this is like the most incredible moment ever.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

Yeah, I mean, probably one of the biggest achievements to be a part of in my whole life. Um, I mean, it's huge. It's huge to be a part of that history and to have our faces go up on the walls around here. Um, I couldn't be prouder, and I couldn't be more grateful to be a part of the team that I'm currently in, and you know, to be under Coach D's leadership. And, you know, just the whole energy and the whole environment is just amazing here at Rocky Top. And yeah, I really couldn't be more thankful and grateful. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:59

It was so special to watch because I know how hard this team has worked, not just this season, but for the past two, three, four seasons leading up to a moment like this. Uh, what how did the team celebrate? What was the celebration like uh the rest of the day, the the flight back home to Rocky Top? Um, what did it what just how were you taking it all in with your teammates?

SPEAKER_00 21:23

Yeah, I mean, this season has been, you know, a real outstanding one for all of us. I mean, we had um we set a program record. We had four wins this whole season, and yeah, so that's also another amazing thing. But really how we celebrated because we had to catch a flight on the way back home. So we're just showing off our medals and um yeah, when we got back, uh Coach D's husband was there with some flowers, and yeah, it was really nice to come back to a family environment and Yeah, but the rest of the time, I just couldn't be more happy to show my medal and just walk around with my t-shirt on.

SPEAKER_01 22:07

It's so incredible to think of like how it started for you guys in the tournament to how you guys finished, because there was no doubt in any of y'all's mind that it could be done. And it would be done no matter what position you sat in, where you were having to play as an underdog one day, or you felt in control the whole day. You guys never took your foot off the gas for the whole week. And for you in particular, you were just one of two Lady Vols to win all three of your matches in the match play portion of the tournament. What is it about that part or that style of play that fits into your game so well?

SPEAKER_00 22:45

Yeah, I think I'm a very aggressive player, and I think my coaches know that they also did a great job with who plays who. So I think they seeded that very well. Um, but that's also the thing that they've told me. Like in stroke play, they'll be like, Kyra, you can't go for that flag because there's a lot of danger around that flag. You need to play more conservative. And in match play, I just feel like I can be really aggressive. And um, I also just yeah, I don't let my opponent see through me as well. Um, you know, very when it's getting down to business, I'll make sure that I'll do it right.

SPEAKER_01 23:20

At what point in the week did you realize okay, this team can actually do something really special?

SPEAKER_00 23:26

I felt like when since whenever we got there, like I just had a feeling, and you know, everything that happened during the week, it was like that trophy was meant for us. Because I mean, with Sophie Angerseth's um shot in round two of her match play, um, she was like one down on the 18th hole, and she had an iron shot over the water, and it like landed in a sprinkler. And if it missed the sprinkler, it would have gone in the water. And thankfully the sprinkler head was there, and you know, she made that putt when she got a drop off of there. So she ended up winning the hole and ended up winning the whole match. So um, I mean, ever since that happened, like it was just meant fully for us, and we ended up taking that sprinkler head home because yeah, it's on display now at the facility.

unknown 24:20

That's amazing.

SPEAKER_00 24:21

It's our good luck charm.

SPEAKER_01 24:22

Yeah, that's so amazing. I love that. A little uh memento from an unexpected memento from the title win. Um to be a part of the group, to win Tennessee Women's Golf first conference title championship, to be a part of that history. What does that mean to you?

SPEAKER_00 24:40

Yeah, I mean, it's really a privilege. I I think I get really emotional about it because, you know, this is what I've dreamed about for a very, very long time. And I absolutely love being a part of this whole environment, the whole team. I love representing UT. And yeah, obviously it's it's just amazing having to carry um this like title. And yeah, I couldn't be prouder of myself and the whole team and all of our efforts. Where's the medal right now? Do you have a display? It's in my room, hanging up on the wall. Amazing. I can see it when I when I walk in every time.

SPEAKER_01 25:21

Every morning you wake up and you're like, oh, I'm an SEC champion.

SPEAKER_00 25:25

Yeah, and I have that t-shirt as well. That's amazing. It's it's yeah, it's amazing. I love having it there.

SPEAKER_01 25:32

So well deserved. Uh, this roster is also only eight women. It's a very small team, but I can imagine a very close-knit group. Yes. To be able to do it with this specific group of young women, what did it mean for you to celebrate a moment so special with them?

SPEAKER_00 25:48

Yeah, I mean, it was exhilarating. I mean, these young women are my best friends. Like, we do everything together. We eat, train. I wouldn't say we sleep together, but we sleep in the same dorms together. And um, yeah, see, I see we see each other like every minute of the day. So just to like run to them and just to be like laughing. I mean, I didn't know what my face was doing. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry because there was just a lot of emotions and feelings, and just to have finally have done it because I mean, ever since I got here, the idea was to win an SEC championship. And yeah, now we've done that. Now you can check that off the list off the box.

SPEAKER_01 26:34

Uh, when you look back on what an unforgettable week it was down in Florida, is there one moment uh that stands out to you the most from it?

SPEAKER_00 26:42

Yeah. Um, yeah, after uh one of the days or rounds of golf, um, the whole team and I we went to go uh get some ice cream and we went to this really cool, like fancy ice cream shop, and two of the girls got like this weird blue cookie monster ice cream. And when they ate it, their whole like mouths were just blue, and it was just hilarious. Yeah, it was a really fun memory.

SPEAKER_01 27:11

And it shows so well like how like this group just loves to have fun and be together, like in the height of a moment this big, you guys are just going to go get ice cream and enjoying time together, and I think that like that sisterhood shows up on the course together when you have those relationships and those bonds. Yeah. On that note, uh last week Tennessee Women's Golf learned that they will be playing in the Waco regional for the uh NCAA regional round of the postseason, May 11th through the 13th next week. How much confidence does winning an SEC championship title go into how you look at the rest of the postseason ahead of you guys?

SPEAKER_00 27:51

Yeah, I think we definitely have more confidence in, you know, ourselves and one another. And I think we'll get a lot of looks when we show up there, and you know, people will be more intimidated by us. Um, but yeah, I think this gives us a lot of momentum, especially in our preparation. Um, I mean, we we pretty much know what it takes now to win a huge championship. So I think we're gonna really just go of what we learned at SECs and use that now when we play at regionals and nationals.

SPEAKER_01 28:22

This is the Lady Vol's fourth consecutive NCAA regional appearance. You obviously experienced one last year and you also experienced an NCAA championship as well. For you to have that experience and for the team to have that experience, knowing what it takes, how much does that help you guys as you picture what the next couple of weeks look like for this team?

SPEAKER_00 28:43

Yeah, I mean, I think right now at regionals it's just about getting that seed, you know, getting that spot in the national championship. And then I think we can go off from there. And yeah, I think there's some really good things waiting for us at California. Oh, yeah. In Omni La Costa Resort. That place is so nice.

SPEAKER_01 29:06

It's I've only heard great things from our videographer Michael, who was there last year. He's like, I'm looking forward to going back. I'm like, I bet you are.

SPEAKER_00 29:14

It's a it's an amazing holiday place for sure. I bet. You don't even feel like uh you're playing the national championship now. Yeah, I'm on a holiday day.

SPEAKER_01 29:22

I'm on vacation. Oh, wait. I do have to play a bottom later. Yeah, we'll get to that. Okay, and just a little bit about you as we wrap up. You were born and raised in South Africa, which is a beautiful place if you've never been. I've only been through the Vault Leaders Academy, but uh you're from Joe Burg, right? Um, what was it about Tennessee that made you ready to take the next step in your golf career and move to the States to Rocky Top to play for Tennessee?

SPEAKER_00 29:51

Yeah, I mean, I really loved Knoxville. I loved the city and I loved the chats that I had with my coaches. I thought that they were so welcoming and, you know, they loved me as a person, but I also knew that they were going to push me to my best self and to be the best golfer that I can be. I mean, our golf facility is just amazing. The views we have there, and you can play whatever shot you really want to play. So if you need a practice on a specific like area of your game or like on a Bermuda green or you know, another type of grass, you can because we have all of that there at the facility. I mean, yeah, just the whole like environment was just amazing, and just the team culture as well. Yeah, I loved it.

SPEAKER_01 30:39

What was the biggest adjustment for you moving from South Africa to the States?

SPEAKER_00 30:44

Yeah, I mean, there was quite a lot. Um I think it's just like not that it's a bad thing, but just like the the accent thing, and yeah, I know my accent can be a little bit um different, but yeah, I think just getting used to like the new culture here, um, new food as well. Um, South Africa, not too bad, but we have amazing food down there. Um, so I think that was probably one of the hardest things.

SPEAKER_01 31:14

Your head coach, uh Diana Cantu, obviously was a Lady Vol here as well from 2006 to 2010. How has she embodied what the Lady Vol legacy represents to you and helped you understand what it means to represent the Lady Vol Power Tea?

SPEAKER_00 31:28

Yeah, I mean, she's a perfect like representation of what it means to be a true Lady Vol. I mean, she always says to us that we need to um leave a place better than we found it. And you know, that really sticks with me a lot. And everything she does, I mean, she's so grateful. Um, she's also so what's humble, yeah, that's the word for it. Um yeah, she's she's amazing, and yeah, I'm I don't know, I'm running out of words for that.

SPEAKER_01 32:02

What's one thing in particular that she brings to the program that most people don't get to see or know about her personally?

SPEAKER_00 32:10

She's really energetic and enthusiastic, and also you can go to her for anything that you want to talk about. You know, if you're having trouble with something or if you're having the best day of your life, she will be there for you no matter what. And she's just an overall great person to talk to.

SPEAKER_01 32:27

Overall, looking back on the past two years, I know we're not like fully finished with year two yet because we still have more competition to go, but how would you describe what the past two years have been like for you here at Tennessee?

SPEAKER_00 32:38

I think it's been, you know, such a big learning experience for me. Um, I just can't believe that how far I've come like as a person and as a player. Um, there's so many things that you know I've learned and had the privilege of experiencing, and um, yeah, I couldn't be more thankful for that growth.

SPEAKER_01 32:59

When you look back in five or ten years from now on this team, on this experience that you have, um what are you gonna remember the most about your time on Rocky Talk?

SPEAKER_00 33:12

Just doing like everyday things with the girls and having those special like one-on-one moments with the girls. I mean, we have a lot of laughs and jokes, and everyone is just so comfortable with one another. So I think I'm really gonna miss that team culture. And yeah, I mean, I just love being a part of this every single day.

SPEAKER_01 33:32

Well, it's so exciting that you're only a sophomore, and you have so much more golf here to play this season and next year and the year after that, and you know, Kyra is a part of the Volleyers Academy, so we're going to Rwanda together this summer in June. So um, you just embody so much of what it means to be a lady of all, and we can't thank you again for the time. And we're so looking forward to seeing what you guys do in the month of May, these next couple of weeks.

SPEAKER_00 33:58

So thank you so much. Thank you.