Kendel Thompson: Manager to captain

Senior Kendel Thompson began her volleyball career in elementary school, which continued on over 10 years later.

“I’ve always played. It’s just always been a part of my life,” Thompson said. 

Her mother, Danika Hone, played in college, which inspired Thompson to continue her volleyball career to college. 

“[Hone] was always someone I looked up to and wanted to be. She’s been my hero,” Thompson said. 

Thompson had an unusual start to her athletic career at USU. She began the season late to play on the team. 

“I was recruited late. When I talked to coach Rob, he had told me that they didn’t have any sports left, so they wanted me to come this spring,” Thompson said. “I could come here as a manager for the fall, and that was a really cool opportunity. All the girls took me in as their own.” 

Even though Thompson wasn’t on the court, she still learned from the team. 

“I’m definitely grateful for the opportunity they gave me to be able to come here,” Thompson said. “Even without a roster spot, it was cool to be on the sidelines and see what’s going on on the court.” 

Head coach Rob Neilson recruited Thompson after she was invited to be a team manager for the fall semester. 

“We heard great things about her, about her work ethic and her competitiveness and her athleticism,” Neilson said. “Her coaches talked about her work ethic and determination and her competitiveness, and those are all traits that you’re looking for.” 

Through film of Thompson’s playing, Neilson was able to see her athleticism, but it was from her previous coaches that Neilson was able to see what kind of person Thompson is. This season, she has set a steady pace of improvement in the gym within the last year. 

“She’s improved a lot of things. She developed one of the better serves in our gym,” Neilson said. “She appears really fast and she is really fast and athletic, but because she can see and anticipate so many things that are going on the court, it allows her to cover even more space.” 

Kendel Thompson celebrates after scoring a point against UNLV on October 25th, 2025. Photo by Hadley Sintay.

Thompson’s determination and grit have allowed her to take that mindset to the court during games where her teammates have recognized that. 

“She’s developed a lot of mental toughness over her last year playing and being in a starting role where there’s just immense pressure all the time,” Neilson said. “She’s come a long way, and her belief and ability to fight through adversity.” 

As a team captain, Thompson has worked to improve herself so she can be a centerpiece of the team on and off the court. 

“She has the trust of her teammates. They voted her as a captain for us, and that’s usually your hardest-working players,” Neilson said. “The players that are setting the example, setting the tone for your culture.” 

What Thompson values is her mental toughness that she has worked on off the court. 

“Being able to be steady — it’s really hard not to get in your head,” Thompson said. “Being someone they know they can count on, and they can come to whenever they need [me] is really big.” 

She has gotten drinks, invited girls over to her house and had meaningful conversations with her teammates. 

“It’s been really fun to watch her really develop relationships off the court,” Neilson said. “Just building relationships is a big deal for the camaraderie and how these guys are going to interact 20 years from now as they come back and celebrate championships.” 

Neilson said it isn’t just good to build relationships for the future but for on the court as well. 

“It’s also important for her to be able to ask and say hard things to her teammates in the moment, and they understand that she trusts them and she loves them,” Neilson said. “She’s working hard for them, but it gives her a lot of credibility to say the tough things that need to be said.” 

The mental stress while playing affects a player’s performance, with the pressure of the game and for the team. Thompson is often asked to perform well under that pressure as a team captain to keep the team together. When in the tough spots, motivation for Thompson comes from not only her outside influences — such as her husband, parents and teammates — but also the sport itself. 

Kendel Thompson high fives Head Coach Rob Neilson as she subs out of the game Oct. 1 (photo by: Alyssa Cook)

“Just knowing that I’m here and I love the sport,” Thompson said. “That this is something I’ve always wanted, and I’m now able to do the sport that I love and play with all my best friends.” 

As a defensive specialist, Thompson is responsible for keeping the play in action and having a strong serve. She also works to better prepare herself for each game, focusing on what can help improve the team as a whole. 

“She wants to get better in lots of different ways,” Neilson said. “So, she works hard in the weight room and works hard to prepare herself, watching film and scouting opponents.” 

The past six months specifically has been where Thompson has improved most rapidly, according to Neilson. Presently, there is anticipation of winning the Mountain West tournament in Nevada.  

For the future, Thompson is in her last year of her undergraduate degree with a chance of her coming back to play during a master’s. 

“There’s a possibility that we might be able to get her back for one more year,” Neilson said. “So, we’re exploring some of those options.” 

When it comes to the present, Neilson sees the steady improvement Thompson is making and how it affects the team as a whole. 

“Right now, just kind of enjoying the process of getting better and pushing this team forward — watching her improve every day is really gratifying,” Neilson said. 

With the volleyball season having less than 10 games left before the tournament, the team continues to work toward improvement, specifically with Thompson as one of the pillars of the team. 

“Who knows what the future is going to hold?” Neilson said. “Just excited to see her keep growing and see what this season brings.”