Erin's Article in the Casper Star Tribune. front page in the sports section.

Heart Over Heat

Erin Kirby had numerous opportunities to escape the snow and cold of Wyoming. The two-sport star from Evanston was drawing interest for her track accomplishments -- she's the defending state champion in the 400, the 100 hurdles and the 300 hurdles -- from Oregon, Fresno State and many other warmer-weather schools.In the end, though, Kirby went with her heart.

Kirby announced in September that she will play volleyball at Wyoming. Kirby also plans on running track at UW when it doesn't interfere with volleyball.

"I've always been better at track," Kirby said, "but I have more of a passion for volleyball."

Track is such an individual sport, and I really like the team aspect of volleyball."

Of course, it doesn't hurt that the 6-foot Kirby is one of the top players in the state.

She leads the state in blocks and kills and is one of the main reasons Evanston entered this weekend's Wyoming State High School Volleyball Championships in Casper as one of the favorites in Class 4A.

"Erin is the complete package," Evanston coach Tera Lawlar said. "But as strong as she is as a player, I think her most valuable asset is that she knows her teammates are just as valuable as she is.

"Statistically, everyone can see how good she is. What makes her stand out even more is she has the ability to make a team better even when she's on the bench."

While Kirby doesn't spend a lot of time watching from the sidelines, Lawlar has the luxury of having a deep-enough team that she can keep Kirby rested.

So when Kirby is on the floor she is usually in attack mode.

She had 12 blocks and 25 kills in Evanston's five-game win at Natrona County on Oct. 10.

"Obviously, Erin is going to get attention when she's on the floor," Lawlar said. "But we're not 'The Erin Kirby Show,' and she knows that. Her humility is amazing."

Kirby said she was weighing her options between volleyball and track when she went to Laramie for a UW match last month. After spending the day hanging out with the players and going into the locker room for coach Carrie Yerty's pre-game speech, Kirby was convinced she wanted to be a Cowgirl.

"I just felt like it was the right place for me," she said. "I first went down for a visit during track and I really liked the coaches. Ever since then, [the coaches] made a point of keeping in touch and really making me feel welcome."

For now, though, Kirby and the Red Devils are focused on bringing the school's first state volleyball championship back to Evanston.

Evanston, the No. 2 seed out of the West, played Cheyenne Central in a first-round match late Thursday.

"I get goose bumps every time I think about it," Kirby said. "It would just be so cool to be the first team to do that.

"It's definitely something that we've talked about."

Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at (307) 266-0528 or jack.nowlin@trib.com.

Kirby Tracker

WHO: Evanston senior Erin Kirby.

TAKE YOUR PICK: Kirby, a state track champion, received numerous offers to run track in college but chose to play volleyball at Wyoming, where she will also run track on a limited basis.

SHE SAID IT: "Erin is the complete package." -- Evanston coach Tera Lawlar.