Athlete of the Week: Emily Nelson
Sport: Volleyball
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Kuttawa, Kentucky
Major: Worship Arts
How is college volleyball different from high school?
College volleyball is definitely more strategic than high school. Even if you can hit the ball extremely hard, it doesn’t matter. You have to be able to think about where your opponents are and purposefully place the ball.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from some of the older players on the team?
To have fun and enjoy the collegiate athlete experience.
What personal goals do you have for this season?
To be more consistent and to be able to read the ball better.
What’s something you wish more people knew about the volleyball team or just volleyball in general?
I guess probably that it’s not as easy as it may seem. I think people look at us and get the impression that all we do is hit a ball around in an air-conditioned gym when really there is so much work that goes into every aspect of the game. And also… burpees. We’ve done so many burpees this season that just hearing the word brings us pain. (A burpee is a full body exercise used in strength training and aerobic exercise.)