Nicole Thomas

Senior biology major
Midlothian, Virginia
Baylor Volleyball team member
Two-Time First-Team Academic All-Big 12 Conference
Three-Time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll

Competing as a Baylor student-athlete means more than competing for the University. We compete with others knowing that we represent a Christian institution. Because of this, it is critical that we demonstrate good sportsmanship, remembering why and for whom we compete: Jesus Christ.

Remembering this is tested when things get tough, when the opponent doesn’t demonstrate the same in return, or when we lose. However, we must keep in mind that we represent something bigger than the “Baylor” on our jerseys.

Any success we accomplish is by the grace of God. Anything that happens outside of that is also by the grace of God. We hold tight to that as we compete — win or lose.

“We believe striving for excellence in everything we do is part of following Christ.”

At the same time, we strive to be great athletes. We believe striving for excellence in everything we do is part of following Christ. Our pursuit of excellence is through Him and for His glory.

Baylor Volleyball has risen to unprecedented heights during my career, including three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. We have prepared the foundation for a championship-level program. We are here to win, but we want to honor God in all that we do. I’m excited to see how Baylor Volleyball makes it to a bigger stage and how we can do all those things for the glory of God.

The program’s success would not be possible without the support of the administration, faculty, staff and our fellow students. Baylor’s athletics programs are well-supported and well-appreciated by the University and the student body. Because of this, any success our programs enjoy contributes to other areas of student life on campus.

My personal experience as a Baylor student has been the best four years of my life, and that goes beyond being an athlete. Other students have rallied around me and supported me. It’s also fun having professors mention the volleyball team’s success in class, and it’s always great seeing them in attendance at matches. That makes you feel like you’re an important part of the University.

Competing as a Christian university gives us the opportunity to rally around athletics as well as the name of Jesus. One of my favorite parts of Baylor Volleyball is that we pray with the opposing team following every match — win or lose.

We prayed with members of the Oregon team after we lost on their court in the NCAA Tournament last year. In the days that followed, several of us Baylor players received messages from Oregon players expressing how much the prayer and the way we presented ourselves on the court meant to them. It reminded us that it’s more than a game, that we are more than athletes, that we have the opportunity to impact lives far beyond our campus.