Throughout one’s life, there are many milestones that mark a significant change for each individual.  One of the first for many people is when they leave home and go out on their own for the first time and attend college.  During this time, they are left to make their own decisions and be accountable for those choices.

An even greater demand is put on college students who add an extra variable to the equation and take on the role of student-athlete.  Not only do these young adults have to learn how to successfully balance the life of a normal college student, but the additional role of intercollegiate athletics.  

Sometimes the demands of the sport that they love are so great that they may choose to take a less strenuous route to earning a degree, but for many of the members of the University of South Alabama volleyball team, a high importance has been placed on academics.  

USA senior middle blocker Jaclyn Nickels and junior setter Jennica Hagberg have definitely veered away from the easier route as they both are majoring in biomedical sciences.

Nickels, a native of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, has been a three-year member of the Jaguar squad and is planning on entering the field of forensic pathology after her playing career is complete.

The interest in the medical field has been there from the start, but the path is a somewhat different one for Nickels.

“My mom was a nurse and I have always been interested in the medical field because of that,” Nickels said.  “In high school, I had an art project that I had to do in which I had to pick a career off a list and I chose crime scene photography.  It was also the time where the television show ‘CSI’ was just kicking off.  I really got interested in it and researched that career.  I realized (crime scene photography) had less education than I wanted to do, so I took it a step further and wanted to pursue the medical side of forensics.”

Like Nickels, Hagberg - who plans on being an ophthalmologist one day - also received direction in her future career path from a close relative.

“My dad has had problems with some eye diseases, and because of what he has gone through, I became interested in helping people with that problem when I was younger,” Hagberg said.  “I have always wanted to be a doctor, I just didn’t know what kind until later in my life.”

The two Jaguars have done an outstanding job of balancing the academic and athletic sides of their lives.  Over the past two years, Nickels has earned both Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List and Academic Honor Roll honors, while Hagberg was named to the league’s Commissioner’s List last season.

Along with Nickels and Hagberg, there are plenty of other Jaguars on the 2010 roster that are following a similar course of study.  Seniors Kari Frazier and Jillian Jordan are working toward completing their degrees in hopes of going into pharmacy school and a post-graduate physical therapy program, respectively.  Along with the two seniors, Val Podczasy (chemical engineering), Jenna Hassell (nursing), Torlandria Jones (physical therapy) and Chelsea Noles (pre-med) are also not taking the average student-athlete’s course of study.

Noles, a defensive specialist from Chattanooga, Tenn., has really taken advice from the upperclassmen on the team to heart, especially from Hagberg.

“Jennica helps me so much with my academics because she is so well put together when it comes to balancing the two,” Noles said.  “She has it all under her belt, so it is much easier to look at the way she has done it and try to do it the same way.”

Another freshman that feels that she has benefited early on in her college career is Hassell, a high school teammate of Hagberg.  

“I have talked to Jennica and Jaclyn some since they are going into the medical field,” Hassell said.  “They have both told me that it is hard work, but it can be done and I just have to stay focused.  They have also given me advice in how to schedule my classes, scheduling my harder classes in the spring so that I am able to apply more time to them.  Also to be sure to bring our homework on the road and that we shouldn’t just sleep on the bus, but use that as an opportunity to work on it.”

The help of the upperclassmen for the younger players has not gone unnoticed by head coach Nicole Keshock.

“Without even saying anything to our upperclassmen, they lead by example.  They are focused on volleyball when it’s time for us to watch film.  When it’s time for them to study they do that.  Where I think our upperclassmen really provided guidance is they are always asking our younger players if they need help in any of their classes with tutoring.  I have seen that in our team over the last few years, and especially from this group.”

Over the summer, the team’s hard work in the classroom was rewarded as the Jags received the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Team Academic Award.  The honor was given to volleyball programs that recorded a 3.3 grade-point average or better during the 2009-10 academic year.  Out of 329 Division I programs, South Alabama was one of 94 schools to earn the award and one of five from the Sun Belt Conference.

Both Nickels and Hagberg say that their success in balancing athletics and academics can be attributed to the same thing.

“I think that the big thing with balancing the two is time management,” Hagberg said.  “I set certain times up every night where I study so I don’t get behind.  Also, when we are on the road during the season, we usually have time to study on the bus or when we get to our hotel the night before our matches.”

“It takes a lot of focus to study on road trips and keep studying when everyone else is relaxing, sleeping or listening to music,” Nickels added.  “It’s taking advantage of the opportunities you are given.  Time management is key.”

Keshock also believes that the structured schedule for student-athletes is an important aid.

“The time commitment for a student-athlete is a huge deal, especially in-season as compared to out of season,” Keshock noted.  “When I played, there wasn’t the 20-hour a week rule that we now follow.  A student-athlete’s time is really taken up, and I like that.  When I was a player, I probably had a little too much free time.

“Today’s student-athlete pretty much has everything scheduled out for them.  They know that from this time to this time, they have classes.  This time is practice and at this time they have to study.  Our newcomers have study hall Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and they also have a CHAMPS Life Skill program.  While they are busier, things are a little more planned out for them and it helps our players get acclimated to the college life.”

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).