Simmons focused on and off the court

It is Tuesday morning and the alarm is sounding. It is 7 a.m. and practice is in an hour. Practice begins, and it is grueling as usual; not one moment is dull. Finally, practice finishes around 11 a.m. Last-minute homework is finished, and prepared reading for class is in order. Classes begin at 1 p.m., and don’t end until 3:45 p.m. A break comes, and it’s back to homework and reading for class. The last class of the day begins at 5:30 p.m., and ends at 6:45 p.m. One last round of homework and reading, as the sun disappears, and relaxation is on the rise. This is just a day in the life of junior volleyball player Amanda Simmons.
Many athletes fulfill the minimum requirements as students each semester, because they know all the time and energy that it takes to be full-time students and athletes. Simmons, on the other hand, laughs at that notion.
“I take five classes every semester,” said Simmons. “So I’m always taking 15 credits.”
Simmons’ circumstances are unique from many of the other athletes that she plays with on the volleyball team. She hasn’t always been a Cardinal. She began at the University of Hawaii, even after being heavily recruited by the University of Louisville.
“Before I committed to Hawaii, I was being recruited by Melissa Stark [former U of L assistant volleyball coach],” said Simmons. “When I realized that I wanted to transfer from Hawaii, she was the first person I called.”
From the moment she arrived at U of L, Simmons has been focused on more than just her spot on the volleyball team. As a psychology major and a double minor in Spanish and race and gender studies, she is poised to be successful on and off the court.
“After graduation, I would hopefully like to play volleyball overseas for a year or so,” said Simmons. “But if not, then I would like to go to graduate school and my get my master’s degree, then my Ph.D.”
Just like any other student, Simmons wants to enjoy her time in college. But she has the added challenge of a sport, along with a major and two minors, to go along with it.
“It is hard to balance volleyball and school, because of the stress,” said Simmons. “Usually my classes are right after workouts, so I am tired and it is hard to stay awake. It does get stressful. But I was a nerd before I ever picked up a volleyball, so school has always come first to me.”
Simmons knows the value of her time in college. She enjoys her playing and traveling time with her teammates, but she finds time to just enjoy herself otherwise.
“I try to be done [with homework] by nine or 10,” said Simmons. “Then I watch a movie with my boyfriend or play Mario Kart on my Wii.”
Simmons didn’t begin playing volleyball until she was 16 and in high school. Calling herself uncoordinated as a child, she refers to herself as a late bloomer in the game of volleyball. Regardless of when she began, she developed into a solid player and contributor here at U of L.
“I decided to play in college, because it is a great opportunity to be in a group activity and to have school paid for,” Simmons said. “The opportunities are tremendous, and there is such a great support system here.”
The volleyball team, along with Simmons, will be in action again Friday, Nov. 13 at the Kentucky International Convention Center, against St. John’s University.

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