By: Mark Wasik
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Two more players will be joining Kennesaw State Volleyball, as Gracie Pynes and Maggie Byrd will be the newest members of the Owls for the 2023 season. They join Haley Patterson, who signed with KSU this past November.
"I'm super excited to add two more outstanding student-athletes and awesome humans to our volleyball and KSU family," said KSU head coach
Keith Schunzel. "Maggie is a high ceiling kid who's got a ton of potential. She's a natural athlete with a great desire to learn and grow. Couple that with her competitiveness and terrific energy and Maggie's got a great recipe to be a high-level student-athlete and be a big contributor for us in her career."
Byrd, a 6-0 middle blocker from Pooler, Ga., was a first-team all-state selection for Savannah Christian this past season. She helped the Raiders to a 28-14 overall record and the third round of the playoffs this past fall, while they claimed regional titles the past three seasons. A two-time all-region selection, she claimed first-team recognition in 2022 after earning second-team as a junior.
"Gracie is the definition of a fireball with a blue-collar work ethic. She is a hard-nosed tough competitor and someone who loves to train hard, compete her tail off and help her team win. Gracie already has terrific skills and will have the mental and physical ability and desire to add to those, which is exciting. She has the foundation to have a great career at a university that she grew up close to and has dreamed of for years of putting on the Owl jersey."
Pynes, a 5-7 libero from Acworth, Ga., earned a spot on the 6-A All-State team for the third year in a row this past season. She helped lead Allatoona High School to a 27-16 record during the 2022 season. A three-time all-state and all-region selection, Pynes also picked up two Cobb County Player of the Week honors in her career. She also helped the Buccaneers to a state championship title in 2019 as well. Pynes played her club ball for Tsunami Cobb 18-Elite Alex.
