Showcasing her raw physical talent
Utah Statesman: Having gotten married over the summer, how have you liked the change in lifestyle?
Amanda Nielson: It’s nice. It’s definitely different, but it’s a good change. [My husband and I] grew up kind of in the same neighborhood and went to the same high school. I didn’t really start dating him until after high school.
US: Why did you choose USU?
AN: It was hard choosing because I wanted to stay in state. I wanted to go to other schools like BYU or Utah, or SLCC because it’s close to my home. But I came up here and it didn’t take me that long to decide. It kind of just felt right. It took three days maybe. They saw me at a tournament, and the next day they came to my house. Then the next day, I went up here to Logan, and then the next day I signed. It was kind of a quick process. I like the campus. I like the small-town feeling. It was a good choice.
US: What has been your most cherished moment as a member of the USU volleyball team?
AN: Probably my freshman year when we beat BYU at home. It was a good game. We were down two games and we came back and won. I was jump-serving on game point. I was a freshman and it was kind of nerve racking. It’s always fun to win, but especially against rivalry schools like that. We were just ecstatic that game. I’ll always remember that I think.
US: Having also competed in track and basketball in high school, what made you stick with volleyball as your collegiate sport?
AN: I played basketball a lot and was getting recruited for that. I was kind of getting hurt a lot. I just like the game (of volleyball) more. I think it’s harder than basketball, personally. It’s more of a challenge for me. Basketball wasn’t really a challenge.
US: What has been the biggest adjustment for you in moving from high school volleyball to the college level?
AN: A lot of things, probably. My high school wasn’t the greatest . . . It was a hard school to get athletes to come to. So, I learned the most from club. It was such a step up for me from high school.
US: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
AN: I have to listen to music before I play, I know that. It’s mostly country. Some rap. It kind of varies. I don’t know; It’s weird. I really like it and it helps me to focus in and get ready.
US: The volleyball media guide says you can touch 10 feet 1 inch when you jump. Can you dunk a basketball?
AN: No, I have (tried). I think I have a couple more inches to go to dunk because you have to get up and over [the rim]. Maybe I could do a tennis ball or something, but I haven’t tried in a really long time. It would be embarrassing if I would try.
US: You averaged 25 points per game as a basketball player during your junior season at Granger High School. Have you ever considered helping out the USU women’s basketball team?
AN: I’ve considered it. I wanted to really bad because I missed it. I never thought I would miss a sport that bad. I played basketball long before I played volleyball. I just loved it. I hated it my senior year and never thought I would miss it, but then I started missing it. I watched the (USU team) play, and I was just like, ‘Uh. I want to play so bad.’ But I didn’t want to just leave volleyball. That would be really hard because just one sport is hard enough. I think Burt (Fuller, last season’s volleyball coach), asked them, but I honestly don’t think he wanted me to because he wanted me to just focus on volleyball. So I don’t think he really considered it. I would like to, but haven’t really looked into it too much. That’d be fun.
US: What do you plan on doing after graduation?
AN: I kind of want to be a teacher. Maybe junior high level, something to do with sports. I’ve just thought about that recently. I don’t know when we’re going to start a family. Maybe not right after I’m done with volleyball, but sometime.