Five questions with Kylie Thomas

The freshman defensive specialist discusses her college transition, favorite volleyball memory and more

February 21, 2018

Editor’s note: Every Wednesday throughout the offseason, we’ll catch up with volleyball student-athletes for five questions.

Kylie Thomas | Fr. | DS | Sterling, Va.

Q: How would you say your transition from high school to college has gone for you?

THOMAS: “It was a big difference with the hours, practices and training being so much different. In high school, we didn’t have training in the morning and practice in the afternoon almost every single day. But it has been a good transition, I have gotten faster and stronger.”

Q: Do you have a favorite memory regarding volleyball either on or off the court this past fall?

THOMAS: “I think playing against UVA both times were really good memories with us winning both games, especially at UVA. We lost that first set and came back and won, and all of their fans were cheering against us. So it was cool to win at their place.”

Q: What makes being a student-athlete at this level so hard to balance everything?

THOMAS: “Definitely the sleep. It’s hard to catch up on sleep when you have practice in the morning and then later and you are trying to balance that with your homework, then with studying as well. That’s the hard part, though. Just making sure that you get enough rest for your body. I got sick this past fall unfortunately.”

Q: What sense of accomplishment does it give you that you are the first student-athlete in your family?

THOMAS: “I mean, really good. I got super lucky with coming to a camp here when I was in seventh grade. I was actually just watching my sister play, because it was for high school, and the old coaching staff invited me down to play. After that camp, I really wanted to come here and play. So, being able to do that has been super cool.”

Q: With pursuing a degree in national security and foreign affairs, why did you choose that major and where do you see yourself down the road?

THOMAS: “I chose national security and foreign affairs because I’m interested in foreign policy and stuff like that, with terrorism and anything like that interests me. I don’t know exactly what I want to do with that yet, but I just like being involved. I feel like there is a lot of stuff I can do, possibly the CIA or something like that.”

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