GREENSBORO, N.C. – Since 1991, the NCAA has named a Woman of the Year, an honor awarded to one graduating female college athlete who has exhausted their NCAA eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers. At the beginning of the process, there were 535 nominees, now there are 154. This year, UNC Greensboro transfer,
Kayla White, is one of those finalists.
"It was such a surprise when I became a nominee," said White. "It means a lot because I put so much work in the last four years in undergrad, so it's amazing in the sense that I feel like I've accomplished something big. Going to Metropolitan State for the academics and joining the student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and going to events for SAAC really speaks volume especially with my degree."
White didn't always want to play volleyball. When she was younger, she resented the sport and played basketball instead.
The reason?
Her mom, Penny Lucas-White.
Lucas-White played at LSU, played professional volleyball domestically and internationally, played for the U.S. National Team. She is also entering her 11th season as the head volleyball coach for Alabama State and was just named to USA Volleyball board.
"I was born out of volleyball season," said White. "My mom literally picked my birthday because I couldn't be born in volleyball season because that's how much it took over our lives. I hated volleyball growing up. I refused to play it, so I played basketball. It wasn't until I was 12 years old when I finally gave volleyball a chance because I was around it so much."
Just because she didn't start out playing volleyball, doesn't mean her mom wasn't supportive.
"My mom is amazing!" said White. "Being her daughter pushes you to a level that many probably won't understand unless they are a coach's son or daughter. For that reason, she gives me higher expectations."
"My mom has this idea of speaking things into existence. She's always allowed me to push myself beyond my limits and with that, it can feel so tough at times, but she is the reason why I've accomplished so many things. I have been able to travel the world in ways I never thought I would and gain opportunities because she thinks I'm superwoman and I know 100% I'm not, but because she puts that belief in my head even if I don't believe it myself. She's pushed me further than I ever thought I could go."
The next wave of nominees will be announced in September by the NCAA. Until then, White and the Spartans will be in action for the first time this season this Friday in Fleming. The Spartans will go head-to-head with the East Carolina Pirates in an exhibition at 6 p.m.
The Woman of the Year nominees represent student-athletes from 18 different sports spanning all three NCAA divisions. Of those nominated, 57 nominees competed in Division I, 36 in Division II and 60 in Division III.
Conferences can recognize two nominees if at least one is a woman of color or international student-athlete. All nominees who compete in a sport not sponsored by their school's primary conference, as well as associate conference nominees and independent nominees, were placed in a separate pool to be considered by a selection committee. Three nominees from the pool were selected to move forward in the process with the conference nominees.
The Woman of the Year Selection Committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will now choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division — from the conference-level nominees. The Top 30 honorees will be announced in September. The selection committee will determine the top three honorees in each division from the Top 30, and the nine finalists will be announced this fall. From those nine finalists, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then will choose the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year.
"Being a nominee makes me feel that I've been recognized and feel really special for them seeing all my hard work come through because it's been a tough four years."
