Volleyball Women Balance Athletics, Academics

Staff Writer

   University of Arkansas at Monticello students face many challenges on a day-to-day basis. However, those in athletics face an even more strenuous schedule.

   UAM offers many types of athletics to both the women and men at the university. These students are required to not only uphold their grade point averages, but they also must report to practices, games and tournaments.

   “It’s tough, but also a part of life. Life isn’t easy,” Cayla Knapp, a member of the volleyball team, said.

   The Cotton Blossoms Volleyball team on an average weekday has conditioning from 6 to 8 a.m., which includes working out and running. The women then attend their classes, and report back for actual practice from 1 to 3 p.m. The off-season is not as strenuous, but during the season the women play games and tournaments frequently.

   It varies between players as to their personal schedules. Knapp - who started playing for UAM this year - works, attends school and plays volleyball. Knapp said she works around 20 hours a week off campus and cannot study at work.

   The women all agreed their coach is big on academics. Nineteen-year-old Keri Gilbert, who has been playing on the team for two years, said they usually spend four and a half hours in study hall a week. Nineteen-year-old Stephanie Hatten said the coach encourages studying, going to class and doing your homework.

   The women presented varying thoughts about whether or not they were missing out on other activities by being overbooked. Hatten said she does not get a lot of free time, but maintains a social life on the weekends. Hatten went on to say the main thing is getting into a routine and keeping her priorities straight.

   Knapp said she is not missing out on anything. She said her social life is based around athletics and the people she has met through being involved with them.

   Knapp said she does gets tired, making it to be more difficult for her to concentrate in class. Gilbert said she probably could be more focused, but academics are a really big deal to her. Hatten said it would be easier to stay focused without so much on her plate, but she has her priorities in line. All the women interviewed work between four and 20 hours a week, but said they still maintain their GPAs and performance on the team.

   Gilbert, Hatten and Knapp said they found the rewards were great in volleyball. Knapp said she feels good about being in shape and still feels she can accomplish more. Gilbert said she loves playing volleyball every day and it helps her grow in relationships on and off the court. Hatten said volleyball helps build character in preparation for the future through teamwork and being constantly busy.

   The extracurricular activitiy demands team members miss class at times for games and tournaments. When the women will miss class the coach requires them to let their teachers know in advance. The women agreed all of their teachers so far have been very accommodating except for one.

   Gilbert said she had a teacher who did not think a volleyball game was a reason to miss class. Gilbert said her grade for the class suffered because she missed in-class assignments and the teacher would not let her make them up.

   All the thoughts presented by the women showed that even though it’s demanding, tiresome, and difficult, the overall rewards and experiences of being in athletics is worth it. 

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