MANHATTAN, Kan. (U-WIRE) -- The signature -- in the cursive script of a teenage girl, complete with little circles dotting each lowercase "i" -- simply reads "Terina Irsik."

Taken from Irsik's social security card, it adorns the volleyball team's new Terina Irsik Memorial Court in Ahearn Field House, donated by the Kevin and Sherry Irsik family in honor of their daughter.

Terina Ann Irsik attended Ingalls (Kan.) High School where she was a middle blocker on the volleyball team, point guard on the basketball team and ran sprints and long jumped on the track team.

Also a cheerleader and active in band, the 4.0 GPA student liked math and science and had dreams of being an accountant and a lawyer so she could afford her dream car, a 1967 Corvette.

"She was a real best friend," said her older sister Jennifer, now the head volleyball coach for Cimarron High School. "We were only 14 1/2 months apart, so we spent all our time together. She was great.

"I couldn't have asked for a better sister."

The Irsiks were long-time K-State fans, and in the early 1990s, Terina and Jennifer attended several of the Wildcats' summer volleyball camps and developed a close relationship with Wildcat players.

Sherry Irsik said the camps had a lasting effect on her daughters.

"They always liked it, learned team ball and fundamentals," she said. "The team was important to them. They would write them letters and visit with them after games in the fall."

It was Terina's goal to play volleyball and maybe even basketball for the Wildcats, even if she had to walk on.

"It was always a dream for one of us to play there," Jennifer said. "We didn't know which one, but one of us was going to play there."

A SUDDEN, TRAGIC DEATH

One night, early in January 1994, Sherry Irsik said she thought Terina was sick following a basketball game, but didn't believe it was anything serious.

"She had a high fever and stayed home from school but in the afternoon she was giggling and talking to friends on the phone," her mother said.

By 3:30 the next morning, Terina was dead. It was Jan. 6, 1994. Terina was 16 years old.

The autopsy showed the cause of death was a form of Neisseria Meningitis that was rare and, in Terina's case, fatal.

"Here was this healthy kid, and we didn't know why she died," Sherry Irsik said. "She had been kind of run down, but the doctor said everything had to be perfect [for the disease to cause death].

"[The infection] never did get to her brain; it moved so fast in her blood stream. There was no way to save her."

REMEMBERING TERINA

After her death, the Irsik's decided they wanted to do something in her memory for K-State.

Director for Development Ernie Barrett told them of needs in the volleyball department, and the Irsiks made a contribution for the renovation of the locker rooms and offices.

"When this office was renovated almost 10 years ago, after Terina's death, the Irsik's were the biggest contributors to this office project," volleyball coach Suzie Fritz said. "They've always kind of had a place in their heart for volleyball here at K-State, and so they were very involved in this project."

Ten years later, with the team in need of a new court in Ahearn Fieldhouse, the Irsiks made another generous contribution in support of Wildcat volleyball.

"I had shared with them that we were looking at getting a new court, and the Irsiks actually went to [athletics director] Tim Weiser with an interest in doing something for volleyball, and they worked together to make it happen," Fritz said.

Sherry Irsik said it made perfect sense to donate the floor.

"We found out they needed a floor," she said. "The kids had had great times at Ahearn watching basketball games and it's such a good place to play volleyball -- just look at their home record."

The Irsiks hope the court, complete with Terina's signature, serves as a reminder. A reminder of a talented and ambitious young woman who loved life and sports, especially K-State volleyball.

"I think she'd be happy with it," Sherry Irsik said. "We didn't know what to call it. We thought she would be embarrassed but probably happy to do it for the team."

(C) 2004 Kansas State Collegian via U-WIRE.