Student-Athlete Profile: crystal hickman
BY BIANCA WARREN
Virginia State Sports Information
From the soles of her feet to the tip of her head, Crystal Hickman is 65 inches of drive, determination and pure power.
She has played against taller opponents almost her entire life, hitting against players who are 6-1, 6-2 or more.
“It’s so much fun hitting against taller players,” Hickman said, her eyes drifting back to her days when she was named All-Region at the 2001 Junior Olympics.
Now, as a senior at Virginia State University, the 5-foot-5 wonder is showing what a giant-killer she has become.
The senior from Winston-Salem, N.C., has 88 kills thus far this season.
But Hickman has saved her greatest feats for the backcourt.
Hickman is leading VSU with 140 digs, and she broke a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) record with 38 digs in a three-game match against Saint Augustine’s College on September 6.
“Crystal is relentless, totally committed, she will follow, dive, and spike that ball wherever it goes,” said Dr. Linda Person, head coach of the Lady Trojans. “Crystal Hickman is a born leader. She wears her heart on the floor.”
Hickman also carries her passion off the court. Earlier in the season, the senior outside hitter was in tears after a game when she failed to reach double-figures in digs.
“I love to receive the ball,” Hickman said. “I love playing the back row.”
Love was hardly in the air in 2006, when the Lady Trojans finished 4-20 and had a coaching change midway through the season.
Now, however, when people think of Virginia State University volleyball, Hickman’s bump, set, and killer spike are the first thing that springs to mind.
The Lady Trojans have already eclipsed their total of four wins after only 11 games, and thrashed CIAA power Virginia Union University in a three-game sweep this season.
Volleyball was in Hickman’s genes. Her mother was a stand-out high school volleyball player in Winston-Salem. A fact that Hickman discovered when she stumbled upon old photos of her mother’s high school playing days when Hickman was in middle school.
Intrigued, Hickman began to explore the sport.
She noticed her friends were playing, so to not be the “odd one out” she began playing too.
Much to her family, friends, and her own surprise she began to compete in the Junior Olympics for the Triad Volleyball Club of Winston-Salem.
Then, in 2001, Hickman was named to the All-Region team of the Junior Olympics.
Now, it’s 12 years later, but the thrill is still there, even when a pulled hamstring kept her from playing as a college sophomore.
“Volleyball was always fun, never stressful,” says Hickman. “If you keep God first everything will fall in place, if you pray before a game, whether you win or lose, everything happens for a reason.”
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