The Rampage Dec 2019

The Rampage

Sports

26

Kendrick Using Volleyball to Reach Life Goals by Carly Bailey Communication • 2020

B luefield College women’s volleyball player Katie Kendrick is enjoying success on the court for the Lady Rams, but volleyball success she says is not her main goal at BC. Kendrick grew up in Prestonsburg, KY, where she started playing volleyball when she was just 10 years old. She eventually became an All-American volleyball player at Allen Central High School in Kentucky and won her high school team’s Most Valuable Player award four years in a row. In addition, she won championships every year while a player at Allen Central High. All of that success drew the attention of Buddy Gallemore, head women’s volleyball coach at Bluefield College, who offered Kendrick a scholarship to play for the Lady Rams. A two-sport athlete who also excelled in softball, she said she chose volleyball because it was something new. She had always played softball until one day she signed up for volleyball just to get out of class.

“It’s just a whole different vibe,” Kendrick said. “I continue to play volleyball because I love the atmosphere of it all, the hype, the rush, and the fast pace. It’s such a relief to step onto the court after a long day.” Now a four-year student-athlete at BC, Kendrick said she loves playing the middle position for the Lady Rams. She said that if she could achieve anything in her sport it would be to get the point across to her teammates that it’s okay to be aggressive to win. “I’ve played volleyball for a very long time, and I can say that I have accomplished more than what I ever thought of accomplishing while being a part of this sport,” Kendrick said. “I’m so thankful and blessed to have been given the gift I have for volleyball. It has opened my eyes to many things — the good and the bad.”

Paige Fisher, one of Kendrick’s teammates who has been playing with her for the past four years at BC, said that she is a very selfless player. “I would say she is a very determined player who has a focused mindset,” Fisher said. “She plays for the team and not for herself and shows a passion for the sport.” Off the court, Kendrick is studying psychology, and her main goal is to become a behavior analyst and eventually move to New York where she’s always wanted to live. “I haven’t really accomplished what I’m working toward yet in life, but so far I have become a better person, focused on my grades more, and have had a great volleyball season,” Kendrick said. “My main goal is to graduate and get my career started so I can finally accomplish my main goal.”

Women’s Volleyball Player, Katie Kendrick