JOHNSON, VT.-At the start of every school year, colleges and universities welcome a new class of students. Most have packed up their cars and SUVs with their most prized and favorite possessions and ventured from all parts of the United States to begin a new chapter in their lives.
There is another group of students that pack up their suitcases, grab their passports and student visas and embark on travel that is thousands of miles from other countries to begin their new chapter and college careers at their respective college or university.
This week's student-athlete spotlight features Nikola Knapova who made her transition from Presov, Slovakia to Virginia in 2015. The initial move from Slovakia to Virginia wasn't the easiest move for Nika. The 4,718-mile trip would pose some difficulties. "I officially moved to the United States in 2015 and I chose to move to the state of Virginia," said Knapova. "It was a hard transition for the first three years. I was here by myself and I experienced a culture shock at first. The food was very different, the pace of life is much faster and overtime I got used to things."
After being in the United States for a few years Knapova found her way to Northern Virginia Community College in 2016 where she was recruited to play volleyball. "Volleyball is very popular in Slovakia. I started playing the sport at a competitive level when I was 17. Prior to that I would just play for fun in school."
On the court for the Nova Nighthawks Knapova earned 418 kills, 481 digs, and recorded 2.71 points per set finishing in the top ten statistically in Nighthawk program history.
It wasn't until the summer of 2018 when Knapova heard about Northern Vermont University-Johnson as she was recruited late after the hiring of Head Coach Keven John. In 2018, Knapova and the Badger volleyball program made their mark in program history winning ten matches which was the most wins since the start of the program in 2009. Knapova was impressive earning North Atlantic Conference First Team All-Conference Honors and emerged as the 2018 NCAA Statistical Champion for Aces Per Set. Knapova would continue to work on her game and returned for her final season at NVU-Johnson in the fall of 2019. The Badgers would add some much-needed pieces to the program and would strengthen their schedule from the 2018 season in hopes to earn a chance at competing in conference postseason play.
The result of the 2019 season was a positive one as the Badgers would go on to win 13 matches until falling in the 2019 North Atlantic Conference Semi-Finals to SUNY Canton. Knapova would go onto being named to the North Atlantic Conference First Team All-Conference for the second year in a row while also being a complete volleyball player who stood out offensively, defensively, receiving, and from the service line for the Badgers.
Knapova 2019 Conference Statistics:
#1 Outside hitter in the North Atlantic Conference only stats for hitting percentage (.228) and points per set (3.8).
#2 points per set in conference stats regardless of position.
#4 conference total attack attempts (119)
#8 overall for conference hitting efficiency regardless of position.
#4 overall kills per set in the conference only stats (2.16).
#2 in the nation for aces per set (.95). Aces per set in conference (1.58).
#5 total conference digs (50). #8 conference digs per set (2.63)
Knapova sits second all-time in kills and services aces, fourth in total blocks, fourth digs, and seventh in assists at NVU-Johnson.
But it isn't the awards and statistics that Knapova is most proud about, it is the work ethic that she has built and the growth she has had throughout her time in the United States.
"My favorite competitive volleyball moment was when we were leaving for playoffs three years ago and I cut the bottom of my foot. Instead of getting it fixed right away I decided to go to the match and play. I competed in every point and asked for every set throughout the match. I tried to hide the injury during every timeout. It made me realize the passion I had for volleyball and the adrenaline I get from playing the sport."
Nikola gets some of her motivation from watching her favorite player, Martin Sopko who is a Slovak male volleyball player that is part of the Slovakian men's national volleyball team. On the club level the 6-foot 5-inch Sopko competes for Mirad Presov.
"I always have looked up to Martin Sopko because he was also born in Presov," said Knapova. "I always tried to wear the same number as him and enjoyed watching how he would compete."
There are more than 20,000 international student-athletes studying and competing at NCAA member institutions, international student-athletes add much to the learning environment within intercollegiate athletics. International student-athletes face unique challenges once they land on campus, including additional travel, language barriers, difficulties in adjusting to new sports culture, and even acclimatization issues and isolation. But within all of these challenges these student-athletes also bring depth and cultural diversity that enhances the learning environment for every student-athlete, coach and administrator.
Knapova has done that for the NVU-Johnson Athletics community and after graduating from NVU-Johnson Knapova plans on continuing to play volleyball and start her own volleyball club.