The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1530878
44 ■ THE WOLFPACKER WHERE ARE THEY NOW? BY TIM PEELER elly Wood Kool thought it might be a little too late to start playing at the top level of international pro- fessional volleyball tour- naments. After all, she had passed the point where she could believably tell people she was still 29, following four- and-a-half years of earning her NC State elementary education degree (2012), two years obtaining her master's degree in public administration, government and policy analysis ('15), a stint in law school and a five-year service pin at her job in the legal and governmental affairs de- partment at ITG Brands. Yet about 18 months ago, just after she became a first-time mom, the former NC State volleyball standout boarded a plane with her 18-year-old playing partner for Australia to see if they could qualify for the main draw of her first international beach volleyball tournament. "When someone suggested I play in an FIVB [International Volleyball Fed- eration] event, I thought I was about seven years too late for that," she said. "But some top beach volleyball players keep playing into their 40s, so I thought I might as well give it a shot." It was mentally taxing traveling with a player who was still in high school. "The math was a little tight on it, but she almost could have been my daughter," Kool said. "When we got to Australia, I thought, 'I'm responsible for another person here.' It was a little strange." They only played one tournament to- gether, and then Kool paired up with a longtime friend, Tiffany Creamer, for the entire 2024 international season. LIFE'S A BEACH Kelly Wood Kool Finds Success On The International Volleyball Circuit K KELLY WOOD KOOL VOLLEYBALL (2008-11) Age: 34 Living: Winston-Salem, N.C./St. Petersburg, Fla. Occupation: Professional volleyball player Did you know: Kool was a five-sport letter- man at Forbush High School in Yadkinville, N.C., while competing in volleyball, swim- ming, track and field, soccer and basketball. As a senior, she scored a goal in the North Carolina 2A state championship match. Kool has had the opportunity to take her daughter, Kylo, to a number of international volleyball competitions. "I want to be an example for her," Kool said. PHOTO COURTESY BLAIR-DOG VOLLEYBALL PHOTOGRAPHY W H E R E A R E T H E Y N O W ?