Galway junior volleyball star Kiera Allen can do all of it, on and off the court docket

Kiera Allen is an elite performer in all three sports activities she performs at Galway. The junior additionally occurs to be an incredible pupil who excels in quite a lot of actions outdoors athletics.

“She is only a large athlete. It does not matter what sport she does. She is unimaginable,” stated Mike Glenn, who coaches Allen in each volleyball and softball. “She is a tremendous child and a tremendous particular person. She is unimaginable within the classroom. She will be able to draw. She will be able to write. She sings the nationwide anthem at some video games.”

Commercial

At present, Allen is engaged in one other high quality marketing campaign for the Eagles’ excellent volleyball group. The 6-foot outdoors hitter is coming off a sophomore season the place she was chosen because the 2025 Instances Union Small College Volleyball Athlete of the 12 months. Allen was additionally named because the Part 2 Participant of the 12 months and earned second-team all-state recognition after serving to Galway earn the Class C sectional title for the third time since 2022. The reigning Western Athletic Convention Participant of the 12 months delivered 511 kills, 234 digs and 54 aces throughout her sophomore season.

Allen, who additionally competes in basketball, the place she has surpassed the 1,000-point plateau and led Galway in scoring and rebounding throughout the 2025-26 season, truly got here to volleyball final amongst her three sports activities. She began enjoying volleyball within the sixth grade.

“Each of my mother and father performed basketball,” Allen stated. “With volleyball, I felt free. I discovered my talent. It’s actually what it was for me.”

Allen is artistic when she just isn’t competing in a sport. The junior loves writing poetry. Her favourite singer is Phoebe Bridgers, the four-time Grammy Award successful singer-songwriter.

“I like fairly songs that I can sing. I like singing the nationwide anthem earlier than basketball video games,” Allen stated.

Commercial

In the case of volleyball, Allen is inventive in how she easily dominates in each aspect of the sport. Glenn is aware of, if wanted, Allen might play each place on the court docket.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake coach Gary Bynon’s son, Mike Bynon, has coached Allen in membership volleyball. Subsequent 12 months, the elder Bynon will coach Allen’s membership group.

“She has come a good distance as a participant, and he or she has spent the time doing it,” Gary Bynon stated. “You inform your children to place the time in to get higher. She has actually proved it.”

This season, Galway is ranked sixth within the state in Class C and stands 14-1 total and 13-0 in Western Athletic Convention play after finishing its regular-season schedule Thursday with a 3-0 victory over Fifteenth-ranked Fonda-Fultonville (13-2, 12-1) to safe the league title for the eleventh straight 12 months. The competition additionally was a rematch of the 2025 sectional closing received by Galway.

Commercial

“Up to now, I feel issues are going fairly nicely for us. We’ve got a very nice group,” Allen stated. “I feel everybody has the potential to actually develop and I feel we will make it actually far this 12 months. I’m actually excited.”

Allen will enter sectional play with profession totals of 1,396 kills, 927 assists and 645 digs.

When first summoned to the varsity volleyball group as an eighth-grader, Allen was utilized as a setter. She proved fairly adept at establishing her teammates and has been known as upon to deal with that job on different events. Make no mistake about it, nonetheless, Allen is an elite hitter. She’s a participant who can merely overwhelm opponents along with her straightforward energy, precision and fluidity.

“I positively went by way of an ungainly stage once I first began enjoying,” Allen stated. “I feel it is necessary and I’m glad that I’m allowed to regulate and am out there to play any place. I do take nice satisfaction in that.”

Commercial

“She is simply so sensible and team-willing,” Glenn stated. “We’ve got constructed a tricky schedule for volleyball and softball. We play all the Suburban (Council colleges) and groups out of the part which can be one of the best groups within the state. We problem the children and wish them to step up. She actually steps up. She is enjoyable to observe.”

“She appreciates the time that has been put in to assist make her the participant that she is and for the alternatives that she has,” Gary Bynon stated. “As a participant, she has improved on her serve and improved on her back-row stuff. She is all the time going to be that hitter. She will be able to hit on the left facet. She will be able to hit on the precise facet. She will be able to hit within the center. She has actually put in that point to that all-around participant. Folks wish to discuss in regards to the kills that come from being an out of doors hitter. Schools need that true six-rotation particular person and what you will do within the again row. She has actually improved on all of that.”

School applications definitely have taken notice of Allen’s total volleyball prowess. Among the many Division I colleges she has obtained curiosity from are DePaul, Wichita State, Temple, Colgate and the College at Albany.

Throughout her final softball season, Allen was named to the Instances Union Small College second group and all-state third group for Class C after helped lead the Eagles to the state closing because the group’s hard-hitting first baseman.

“That was actually cool. It was an amazing group expertise. We actually grew as teammates for one another,” Allen stated. “Even the sport earlier than the state closing was so wonderful – 10 innings, and we had vitality all through the sport.”

Commercial

Allen had the chance to compete within the volleyball state closing 4 in Glens Falls earlier in her profession. She is trying to lead this season’s squad again to that time once more after falling to Mount Academy in state regional play in 2025.

“Her aim is to get to the state championship,” Glenn stated.

“It will be wonderful. I’ve been there earlier than. It will be an amazing expertise for our entire group to be there,” Allen stated. “Getting there reveals you what is feasible. I feel it will change our perspective for subsequent 12 months and it will be an incredible expertise for this group.”

Subscribe

There’s extra to Albany with the Instances Union. Subscribe in the present day for simply 25¢.

This text initially printed at Galway junior volleyball star Kiera Allen can do all of it, on and off the court docket.