Getting To Know The Lady Flames: Kendall Nichols

Each Wednesday throughout the volleyball season, fans will get the opportunity to know the Liberty volleyball players a bit better through a question-and-answer session.  Today, the series continues with sophomore outside hitter Kendall Nichols.

What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

My favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 because it played a huge role in why I came to Liberty. Not only did God lay it on my heart the summer before I even knew about Liberty University but it was the team verse.

 

My favorite movie is between Cinderella Man and Rudy. To me they are both very inspiring stories about what it takes to really pour your heart into something and the amazing outcome when you give it everything you've got.

 

What is your favorite memory while competing in your sport?

One of my favorite memories from volleyball was standing on the end line at my first collegiate match at San Diego State while the National Anthem played. When that moment hit, suddenly I realized my dreams had come true and I was living them out by playing for a Division I program and being able to represent a Christian school. All of the hard work was beginning to pay off.

 

Haha. My most embarrassing memory came when I was younger and was warming up my arms with a teammate. I threw the ball down as hard as I could to get my shoulders loose, but when I threw it down I was leaning over too far and I nailed myself in the face!

 

Well the way that I found out about and was recruited by LU is a story in and of itself. But the reason that I decided to sign with LU is because I couldn't have been more excited about playing for a team whose number one goal is to share Christ through athletics. I wanted to be a part of that. Anyone can go to another school and be a light on a team, but it is amazing to see what God will do when an entire team of believers gets together to compete and focuses on what God wants to do in them instead of what they can do by themselves.

 

I guess you could say that I grew up in the baseball world. My father Reid Nichols played Major League Baseball before I was born and after that he worked for different organizations. So, I had the opportunity to grow up around the professional sports world and really get an inside look at what it takes to be a professional athlete.

 

My defining moment was when I went to watch my first collegiate match with my parents while I was in the eighth grade. Just seeing the way the girls played made me realize that I wanted to play at the highest level I could and one day be like them.

 

What is one question you would ask Dr. Falwell?

What were some of your biggest challenges of faith when you felt God lead you to build Liberty?

 

If you could be somebody else for a day, who would you be and why?

I would be Kerri Walsh because I would want to know what it takes to play professional volleyball. Then I could spend the day knowing the game at such a high level from playing in the Olympics and having years of experience under my belt.

 

As much as I would love to narrow it down to a single athlete, the most I can do is narrow it down to a specific group and that is the women's basketball team. I was blessed with the opportunity to train with them over the summer and I was amazed at the teamwork and effort that those girls pour into LU's program. Just being around them in the weight room and working alongside them with some of my teammates, it really showed me what building a competitive and successful program is all about.

 

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Not to worry.  Pressures and stress are going to come in this lifetime and it is all in the way you react to them and handle them that will help to determine the outcome.

 

If you could change one rule in your sport, what would it be and why?  

I would change the rule about it being legal to "double" the ball on first contact from a serve. Basically, you cannot contact the ball on your hands at two different times on the first pass of serve receive.

 

Play for as long as I can then hopefully continue a career in coaching or something along that line.

Hike, fish and hang out with friends and family.

 

Words that describe me on the athletic field (and why) are …

Competitive, hard working, persistent and determined. Being the youngest in my family, I really learned that if I wanted to be heard I needed to speak up. I think I developed a competitive sense and determination towards things in life. I also try to give things my all when I compete and take on other tasks in my life. I don't believe that many great things come from laziness.

 

If you could compete in any sport against any athlete, who would it be and why?

I would compete against Logan Tom. She is an athlete that has been an inspiration. She is also someone that has shown me that you don't have to be extremely tall to be one of the best volleyball players in the world.

 

My craziest ambition in life is …

To make sure I have been in every state before I die.

 

I like to just get by myself for a little bit before a game and spend some time in prayer, listen to some warm-up music and focus on what my goals are for the night.

 

One person in history that I would like to meet would be David in the Bible because he had such an amazing heart for God and I would want to ask him what it was like facing Goliath.

 

A place I've always wanted to visit, but never had the chance is (and why)?

I would love to go to Venice because I have never been out of the country and I think that it would be such a neat experience.