After two celebrated high school careers, Dove Creek sisters Kylie and Kalie Gatlin opted to stick together for their next athletic venture, both signing with Briar Cliff University’s volleyball program.
The Gatlin twins will head to Sioux City, Iowa on athletic scholarships and join the Chargers.
Briar Cliff, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school of around 1,100 students, competes in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
The Chargers, coached by Lindsey Weatherford, look to improve from a 7-23 season.
“After reaching out to the coach, we were able to make a visit and meet with the team – they were really welcoming,” Kylie Gatlin said.
Kalie Gatlin said that although it’ll be a change transitioning to a bigger city, Briar Cliff will have that small-town feel to it.
“It’s still a bit surreal to say that we’re going to be collegiate athletes, but we know that we’re going to put in the work to get to that level,” Kylie Gatlin said.
The twins led the Bulldogs to the state volleyball semifinals this past fall, and it was their third straight state tournament appearance.
Kalie Gatlin dished out over 2,500 assists, while Kylie Gatlin tallied over 1,000 kills. The twins helped the Bulldogs compile an 89-13 record over their four years, Both sisters earned All-San Juan Basin League status in each of their four years.
Dove Creek volleyball coach Lacey Murphy, who coached the duo from their middle school years all the way through their final matches at the CHSCA All-State games this upcoming June, played an important role in guiding the Gatlins on their path to college volleyball.
“She really pushed us because she knew that we wanted to play at the next level, and she’s been supportive through the whole process of getting us recruited,” said Kalie Gatlin.
The sisters have been referred to as the “Twin Towers” during their athletic careers, also earning All-State accolades on the basketball court. The duo helped guide the Bulldogs to a third-place finish at state in their junior year, followed by a fifth-place result in their final season.
“There was never really a debate about whether we’d play volleyball or basketball,” Kylie Gatlin said. “Volleyball has been our favorite sport for a long time.”
After honor roll achievements in the classroom at Dove Creek, the Gatlins both look to study ultrasound technology at Briar Cliff.
“We’d always wanted to be in the medical field, so that was a big draw for us as well,” Kalie Gatlin said of their academic pursuits.
As nerve-wracking as it may be to play volleyball halfway across the country, the sisters will enjoy the continuity of being on the court together.
in some ways, will also hold the same familiarity it always has for the Gatlins,
“We’ve got each other – it was never really a thought that we would go to different schools,” Kalie Gatlin said. “I don’t think we’ll ever separate.”
