University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Kaiya Tyson
September 04, 2023 | Volleyball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Kaiya Tyson, a 5-foot-10 freshman setter from Burlington, Ontario, Canada, is part of a family of athletes. Her mother, Felicity, was a volleyball player and even played on the Canadian National Team. Her father, Alec, played football at McMaster University in Canada, and her older brother, Coltrane, plays lacrosse at UMass.
Tyson has already competed for Canada in the U18 Volleyball World Championships and the U19 Pan American Cup. She also has had success on the beach, earning gold at the 14U Beach Volleyball Nationals and silver at the 18U. She has seen action in six matches already this season, and up next for Georgia is the Bulldog Classic this Thursday and Friday at the Ramsey Center.
During a recent Quick Chat, Tyson talked about her start in volleyball, adjusting to college life, her thoughts on poutine, and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:Â
Frierson: Given that Tom Black coached the Canadian National Team for a few years, is that how you first became aware of him and Georgia?
Tyson: My club, Defensa, had five girls going out to the National Excellence Program in B.C. (British Columbia), which is run by the head coach, Shannon Winzer. Tom, I guess, was like, Who's this club that produced five national team players? So he came to club Defensa and that's where he first saw me. I think I was 15, so that was a while ago. I've known about him since then and he's known about me.
Frierson: What is it like to be here, far from home, as you start a new chapter in your life?
Tyson: I went out west to the National Excellence Program, so I kind of had an idea about living on my own, especially at the opposite end of the country, in a different time zone. Coming down here, it's definitely different, not have a parent-figure in the house. Dinners, making dinner, is definitely more challenging, but I have such a great support system around me. I can go to my parents whenever, I can go to the coaches, our trainers, my teammates — they've all made this transition so smooth.
There was definitely a lot of excitement, but also nerves. I knew that there was going to be so much learning that I was going to have to go through, and I knew that I was going to be overwhelmed, which I was, but I think every athlete gets overwhelmed sometimes. It was more excitement about getting to learn and grow.
Frierson: Was volleyball always your main sport? Did you play a lot of different things when you were younger?
Tyson: My parents did put me in a lot of sports, but my mom also played on the national team, so she thought that volleyball was for me. She knew I was going to be somewhat tall, I'm only 5-foot-10, and she's 5-11, so she knew I was going to get up there. She put me in the setting position and that's where I got my start.
I started playing when I was 8, and I played up (an age group) for a number of years.
Frierson: Are you excited for your first Georgia football game?
Tyson: I am so excited to see the Ball State game (on Saturday). I know just seeing 92,000 fans in just one area is going to be insane. I'm super excited to see the football, but also just for that experience, as well.
Frierson: What is something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Tyson: I would love to say I could eat burritos all day, from a place, I don't think it's here in Georgia, called Burrito Boyz. I could eat that all day, or anything that my mom makes. She's an amazing cook; she doesn't cook often, but when she does, it's amazing.
Frierson: What will she make for you the next time you go home? Or what do you hope she makes?
Tyson: Definitely one of her pastas, maybe her shrimp Alfredo, which is by far my favorite dish that she makes. I think we're hosting Christmas dinner, and her Christmas food is always amazing.
Frierson: Poutine: overrated or a national treasure?
Tyson: I, honestly, don't eat poutine a lot, but it's not overrated, I would say. I mean, some people don't make it well. It has to be a good, hole-in-the-wall restaurant. It can't be McDonald's.
Frierson: Do McDonald's in Canada serve poutine?
Tyson: They do — McDonald's and Tim Horton's. ... A Tim Horton's Ice Capp, that's something I could drink every day. It's a slushy coffee.
Frierson: Who is the funniest person on the team?
Tyson: I think you've probably gotten this a lot [laughs], and you can guess.
Frierson: Is she 6-foot-5 and has a huge personality?
Tyson: Exactly. It's Sophie Fischer, definitely. She has little comebacks or clap-backs that you don't expect. And she does like to make fun of my Canadian accent that I don't think I do have, but she definitely likes to point it out.
Frierson: I can't say I've noticed an accent. I wouldn't have guessed you were from Canada if I didn't already know.
Tyson: I am definitely guilty of saying "eh" a lot. That's the Canadian stereotype that's very true.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
