VMI Athletics

Sierra Payne enters her first season as an undergraduate assistant coach for the VMI water polo program.

A former VMI water polo cadet-athlete, Payne is set to graduate from the Institute in May with a degree in psychology and currently serves as a Hotel Company 4th Platoon sergeant on post.

As a senior in 2015, Payne competed in 22 matches and recorded 41 shot attempts for the year while totaling six goals and four assists. An excellent student, she was also named to the Cadet Athlete Scholar Society following spring semester after posting at least a 3.0 GPA for the term.

During her junior season in 2014, Payne scored 29 goals in her first season with the Keydets after transferring from Golden West Community College in California. Tallying four hat tricks during the year, she earned back-to-back hat tricks in games versus Occidental and Cal State San Bernardino on March 8.

A standout and team captain at Golden West, Payne helped the team to a combined 52-3 record between the 2011-12 seasons and a CCCAA state championship in 2012.