JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 31, 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 senior Ivey Rice (Johnson City, Tenn.). Rice, who was named to the A-Sun All-Academic Team in 2012, has played in 121 of the 123 matches since stepping foot on campus in the fall of 2011. The Buccaneer outside hitter became a member of the 1,000-kill club earlier this season and has compiled 1,065 kills and played in 457 sets in her career. The 457 sets played rank 10th among active NCAA Division I players.  

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?
I would have loved to be at the 2012 Summer Olympics. I think it would be interesting to see some of the most elite athletes perform live.

What is your favorite thing to do off the court with your teammates?
Go out to meals as a team.  It’s always entertaining to see what will happen or what will be said at the restaurant. Plus, we all love food, so everybody is always in a good mood.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Croatia, to see all of the AMAZING waterfalls!
 
What is a non-athletic accomplishment that you are most proud of?
My grades in school.  It’s always very rewarding to receive a good grade in the classes that I know I have put the time and effort in to receive that final grade.  

Who is the best dancer on the team?
Eryn (Samuels)!

What is your favorite quote?
“The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.” – Pinterest search “inspirational quotes”  

What is something that not many people know about you?
I had a speech impediment until I was in elementary school. I couldn’t pronounce my “r’s” properly, therefore everything I said would come out as “I want to go to my ‘woom.’ Or, “my name is Ivey ‘Wice.’

What movie can you watch over and over and never get tired of?
“Elf”

If you could have hung out with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why?
Zooey Deschanel… I love her witty personality and style!

If you could pick any profession in life (regardless of education, money, judgment, or training) what would it be? What's stopping you?
A veterinarian!  I wouldn’t be able to put down any animal. I would just end up with a house full of animals.   

What do you think is an important rule to live by?
Don’t ruin a good today by thinking about a bad yesterday.   

What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Christmas!  I love the holiday spirit that occurs around that time and all of the Christmas lights that go up everywhere.  Also, I love getting to spend Christmas with my family.  Most Christmas’s are spent with all of my extended family in Texas, so Christmas time always gets me very excited to be able to spend good quality time with them.  

What are the top three things on your bucket list?
1) Travel cross country visiting national parks
2) Scrapbook the adventures that I would take to the national parks
3) Visit NYC on New Year’s Eve
 
What is a talent you don't have that you wish you did?
To be able to sing

What is one piece of advice you would give a young athlete who aspires to be a college athlete?
Never lose the passion or enjoyment you have for the game. There will be many practices, games, workouts and tournaments that will push to your limits, but always remember the love you have for the sport. Also, never be satisfied with being better than everyone else. Continue to give 110% during every practice in order to become the best YOU can be.  

If you had not pursued volleyball, which sport would you have pursued, and why?
I would have pursued soccer if I hadn’t have chosen volleyball. I had played many sports growing up, but soccer and volleyball were my main two sports that I enjoyed. In seventh grade, I had to choose between the two (I obviously chose volleyball), so if I hadn’t have picked volleyball, then I probably would still be playing soccer!

Rice and the Buccaneers return to action this weekend as ETSU plays at UNCG Friday night, before returning home to host in-state rival Chattanooga Saturday at 7 p.m., inside Brooks Gym.

For more information on Buccaneer volleyball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the volleyball link.