Kyndal Payne is a crucial Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Islanders Women’s Volleyball team player.
While Kyndal attended high school in Fort Worth, Texas, her sister, Kaylee Payne, represented the Islanders from 2018-20.
“Once she joined, I often visited for matches and immediately adored the school, campus, and the entire program,” shared Kyndal.
Seeing her sister clinch titles inspired Kyndal to join the Islanders with aspirations to achieve similar feats.
“I aimed to immediately be the best player I could, desiring to add value to this program’s legacy and chase greatness like my sister,” Kyndal expressed.
The Islanders clinched the 2020 Southland Conference Championship, with Kaylee Payne delivering a remarkable performance during the finals. Although the team faced a setback in the NCAA Tournament’s initial round, Coach Steve Greene believes this fueled Kyndal’s determination upon joining.
“Kaylee steered our team to a win, and Kyndal aspired to establish her legacy. I believe she’s surpassed that,” remarked Greene.
While awards don’t drive Kyndal, she’s gratified to receive them. In her sophomore year, she earned the titles of Honorable Mention All-American and the Southland Conference Player of the Year. Greene noted her work ethic: “Such distinctions are among the loftiest in our sport. Achieving them as a sophomore is truly commendable.”
Kyndal credits her achievements to the support of her teammates. Recently, a banner commemorating her successes was raised, a gesture she finds profoundly honoring. “It pushes me to enhance my game this season, aiming for similar accolades,” she stated.
Currently, Kyndal’s focus is on being an exemplary leader and elevating her team’s performance. Coach Greene observes that her peers respect her dedication to the game and her passion.