JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 16, 2014) – Each week during the season, members of the ETSU volleyball team will be featured in a "Q&A" segment on ETSUBucs.com.

The next student-athlete profile is sophomore Renzey Rice (Johnson City, Tenn.). Rice has played in 46 matches in her first year-and-a-half with the Buccaneers. The ETSU defensive specialist/libero totaled a career-high four service aces in the four-set win over MTSU earlier this season, while also registering a career-high 17 digs at Western Carolina last Saturday. Rice has also recorded double-digit digs four times in her career.

During the preseason, the players came up with the questions, which can be found below, and each of them submitted their answers. Below are the responses by Rice: 

If you could witness any event (past or present) what would it be? Why?
The tearing down of the Berlin Wall. The wall signified a division and hate. By tearing the wall down, people opened up to one another and the rest is history. This is such a life-changing moment to see 28 years of hate fall to pieces.

What is your favorite thing to do off the court with your teammates?
Eating... I’m 90-percent sure this is going to be mostly everyone’s answer. Our team eats probably more than any other team at ETSU. We have “chili night” every now and then. It’s a great way to learn more about each of our teammates and catch up with everyone!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Ireland.  It’s such a unique place and I want to go and see all the beauty it has!

What is a non-athletic accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Becoming baptized. I know it’s not an award or anything, but I believe the choice I made to be baptized is the most important life choice I have ever made.

Who is the best dancer on the team?
Not Ivey (Rice) or Jess (Schafer), I can tell you thatIf anyone, I would have to say Merf (Meredith Hardy) has a little sway to her!

What is your favorite quote?
“Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage and I promise something great will come of it.”

What is something that not many people know about you?
I wrestled for one year in high school. Ivey Jamie and Merf came and supported me while making fun of me at the same time!

What movie can you watch over and over and never get tired of?
“She’s the Man,” for sure!!

If you could have hung out with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why?
Hmm… Audrey Hepburn. The way she carried herself changed the way women are depicted and created a sense of confidence for women.

If you could pick any profession in life (regardless of education, money, judgment, or training) what would it be? What's stopping you?
A stay-at-home mom? My mom was a stay-at-home mom and I have so much respect for her. I could never be this, because I know it’s important to have a good income in this economy and I believe I would go crazy without having other interactions. Plus, I love my major!

What do you think is an important rule to live by?
Treat others the way you want to be treated. As old as this “rule” is, it proves to have such an impact on the way we treat others if we keep this in mind.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?
It’s a tie between Halloween and Christmas. When I was a kid, I always made my costume… ALWAYS! I once painted a big box as a dice and wore it, I glued candy on and was a theater floor once, and I painted a box as a traffic light. (There were many other awesome costumes these were just my favorite!) Halloween for me was a chance to be off the wall with creativity and I absolutely love seeing all the great ideas come together. I also love Christmas because I get to see my family.  My parents are both from Texas, so every year we take a family trip to see everyone and I love getting to see all my cousins and grandparents. It’s a mix of great food, company, and adventures!

What are the top three things on your bucket list?
1) Visit all the places I have pinned on Pinterest

2) Learn a different language

3) Hike the Appalachian Trail

What is a talent you don't have that you wish you did?
Sing or anything musically inclined.

What is one piece of advice you would give a young athlete who aspires to be a college athlete?
Don’t stop yourself. Most of the time, young athletes limit themselves. They don’t believe they are good enough to play D-I, or even college ball, and that’s the most tragic way to end a career of athletics. Challenge yourself day in and day out to work harder than anyone else, and believe that you can not only go to college for your respective sport but also make and impact on those around you.

If you had not pursued volleyball, which sport would you have pursued, and why?
Soccer…  I played soccer for 13 years and I loved it.  Unfortunately, once I got to high school we had to choose because volleyball and soccer were in the same season. 

Rice and the Bucs return to action this weekend when ETSU hosts Wofford Friday night at 7 p.m.

For more information on Buccaneer volleyball, visit ETSUBucs.com.