By: Nyla Knowles
KENNESAW, Ga. - For
Maggie Byrd, the road to collegiate volleyball at Kennesaw State wasn't always part of her plan. While she was an accomplished high school athlete who captured a high jump state championship, Byrd came to KSU with the potential of being a star in track and field. However, Byrd opted for a different journey, which would test her as an athlete, define her college experience and guide her to mature as a teammate.
Four years later, Byrd, now a senior with KSU volleyball, has continued to grow as a confident player and, more importantly, become part of a program that has played a significant role in shaping who she is outside of it.
Prior to KSU, Byrd was a three-sport athlete in high school at Savannah Christian Preparatory School, participating in volleyball, basketball and track. Despite her success in all three sports, Byrd said track and field was where she initially felt she would continue at the collegiate level.
With her standing as a state champion in the high jump, Byrd had opportunities from several collegiate programs.
However, after visiting KSU for track and field, Byrd realized that something was missing.
"I visited for track, and I was like, I like it, but I don't love it," she said.
That realization prompted her to contact the volleyball program and see if she could participate in both sports. Following discussions with coaches, she decided to pursue volleyball.
For Byrd, it was about much more than athletic opportunity. She wanted to feel like everyone was in it together, all working toward the same goal and sharing both the good and the bad times.
"High jump obviously, you're on a team, but it's very individual," Byrd said. "I really like that aspect of volleyball, where success depends on teammates working together."
Her love of the game was evident during her senior year of high school. Byrd was so excited after winning her team's regional championship that she was overcome with tears, helping her realize it would be a challenge to say goodbye to the sport in college.
"I started crying, and I was like, I don't know how I'm not going to be able to do this after high school," Byrd said.
That moment helped confirm her decision to pursue volleyball at the collegiate level, even if it meant walking away from a sport in which she had already achieved significant success.
Byrd impressed KSU head volleyball coach
Keith Schunzel with her athleticism from the time of her recruitment. Although she hadn't played much competitive volleyball outside of the high school level, her athleticism told him she had potential.
"She was a really good athlete," Schunzel said. "She was a state champion-level high jumper and moved and jumped well."
The coaching staff saw that Byrd's brief volleyball experience didn't necessarily mean she was limited; they saw it as a chance to grow her volleyball IQ as well as use her existing athletic strengths.
"We thought that even though she had a lack of volleyball experience, because she didn't play club, that also was positive for her because her ceiling was going to be really high," Schunzel said.
Patience and persistence are what helped her develop at KSU. Byrd came to campus knowing how to play the game but adjusted as she learned what she needed to do to excel at collegiate-level volleyball.
"Coach [Schunzel] really took a chance on me," Byrd said. "Coach really, really took his time with me and developed me over the spring seasons and over all of the time I've been here."
As she grew into volleyball, she also began to recognize the importance of giving herself grace.
Early in her college career, she felt pressure to perform perfectly while adjusting to a new level of competition. Over time, she learned that growth did not require perfection.
Her development is reflected in her performance. During the 2025 season, Byrd started a career-high 26 matches and appeared in all 28. She recorded career highs in kills, service aces, blocks and total points, including a season-high seven kills against Middle Tennessee and seven blocks against App State.
However, Byrd's impact on the team is found in more than just numbers.
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Schunzel views Byrd as a very competitive player who runs hot and can energize those around her, whether she's getting after a bad call or ​​grinding through a tough match.
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"When she gets her mind in the right place, she's a real fireball," Schunzel said. "You want people out there that are going to lay it on the line and go for it."
Byrd has come to learn she has this quality, too. She's been characterized as fiery and full of energy, and she says her competitive fire can rub off on her teammates. Byrd remembers a game against Mercer, when she started to notice the team rallying around her intensity.
"I realized that they fed off that energy," Byrd said. "Bringing that play to every game has really helped us."
That competitive spirit coexists with a calm, personable side to Byrd. Schunzel notices a difference between the way Byrd conducts herself off the court and how fiercely she competes on it. Both facets have helped shape her as an athlete and a friend.
Over her four years at KSU, Byrd has also grown to love the program's culture.
The coaching staff's dedication to player development and relationship building has fostered an enjoyable sisterhood on the team.
"That's the biggest thing for me is having a group of people who have gone through the storms of life together and really been able to be there with each other," Byrd said about her 2026 team family.
Instead of choosing a singular achievement that would be considered the highlight of her career, Byrd is grateful for the group effort.
"I'm just so proud of this team and how hard we work every single day," Byrd said. "If somebody's not on their best game, somebody else can pick them up."
Schunzel shares that sentiment on what Byrd has meant for the program. In addition to her improvement as a player, he pointed out her consistency, dedication and mindset all four years.
As a senior, Byrd has begun to think about life after volleyball as she prepares to graduate and begin a new phase of life in May 2027.
Byrd is approaching the completion of double majors of marketing and professional sales and seeks a career in sales after college, possibly back in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia.
As a student-athlete, she has learned skills to help her in the workplace, including communication, teamwork and leadership.
However, it will also be a farewell to a game that has played a significant role in her life.
When asked what she would like others to take away from her experience, Byrd named the values that have gotten her through college: effort, perseverance, and integrity.
"I hope they remember that I was a hard worker, and that I came into every practice and wanted to work hard," Byrd said. "But also just remembering, character outside of volleyball, and not just knowing me as a volleyball player, but knowing me as a person as well."
Maggie Byrd arrived at KSU with a decision behind her and a new challenge ahead. A state champion in the high jump, she had already built a successful track and field resume. But Byrd's decision to switch to volleyball set her on a path where she would learn, evolve and transform her vision of success.
Four years later, her journey is about more than the sport she chose. It is about the commitment to keep improving, the willingness to take a chance and the person she has become along the way.
