Dove Creek seniors Kaylee and Kylie Gatlin, along with family and head coach Lacey Murphy, will sign letters of intent to play volleyball at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa, this fall. (Courtesy of Briar Cliff Athletics)
Bulldogs' Kaylee and Kylie Gatlin head to Briar Cliff College
After two successful high school careers, Dove Creek sisters Kylie and Callie Gatlin chose to unite for their next sporting endeavor, with both signing with Briar Cliff University's volleyball program.
The Gatlin twins will head to Sioux City, Iowa, to join the Chargers on athletic scholarships.
Briar Cliff, a National Intercollegiate Athletic Association school of approximately 1,100 students, competes in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
The Chargers, coached by Lindsay Weatherford, are looking to improve on their 7-23 season.
“After I contacted the coaches, I was able to visit and meet the team and they were really welcoming,” Kylie Gatlin said.
Carly Gatlin said Briar Cliff will retain a small-town feel, although the change is due to the move to a larger city.
“It's still a little surreal to say we'll be college athletes, but I know we'll work to get to that level,” Kylie Gatlin said.
The Twins led the Bulldogs to the state volleyball semifinals this fall, making it their third consecutive state tournament appearance.
Kylie Gatlin had over 2,500 assists and Kylie Gatlin had over 1,000 kills. The twins helped the Bulldogs go 89-13 in four years, with the sisters earning All-San Juan Basin League status in each of their four years.
Dove Creek volleyball coach Lacey Murphy played a key role in putting Gatlins on the path to collegiate volleyball, coaching both girls from middle school to the CHSCA All-State Game finals this past June.
“She really pushed us because she knew we wanted to play at the next level. And she supported us throughout the recruiting process. ,” Callie Gatlin said.
The sisters have been nicknamed the “Twin Towers” throughout their athletic careers and have also earned All-State honors on the basketball court. The two led the Bulldogs to a third-place finish at state in their junior year and a fifth-place finish in their final season.
“We never really debated whether to play volleyball or basketball,” Kylie Gatlin said. “Volleyball has been our favorite sport for a long time.”
After excelling in the classroom at Dove Creek, the Gatlins are both studying ultrasound technology at Briar Cliff.
“We always wanted to be in the medical field, so that was a big draw for us as well,” Callie Gatlin said of their academic pursuits.
Although playing volleyball on the other side of the country may be nerve-wracking, the sisters will enjoy the continuity of being on the court together.
In some ways, Gatlin will continue to have the same familiarity that he always has.
“We care about each other. We never thought we'd end up going to different schools,” Callie Gatlin said. “I don't think we'll ever part.”