MANHATTAN, Kansas – Lipscomb’s Brittany Thomas has tumbled as a gymnast and raced down soccer fields, but the game of volleyball captured her attention and it eventually captured her heart.
Her combination of speed and power and her willingness to sacrifice her body to make a play have made the junior Libero a key to Lipscomb’s success.
“I got to level eight in gymnastics,” Thomas said. “Olympians are level 10 elite. But it got to the point where it started to get scary and I had to beg my mom to let me quit and luckily she did.
“I started at the age of two or three and quit at age 10. Gymnastics gave me the foundation of my athleticism along with an athletic mind.”
Her older sister, Danielle, played volleyball. At the age of 10 she followed in her sister’s footsteps.
Thomas, one of three players on the Lipscomb team from Kansas is enjoying being back in her home state. A native of Overland Park, she played on the same high school team as outside hitter Carlyle Nusbaum and the same club team as right side Chloe Rogers.
The Bisons, 22-7, are facing Big 12 opponent Kansas State, the No. 14 seed nationally, Friday night at 7:30 at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats are 20-9. The match will be televised on ESPN3.
They too shall pass
Lipscomb is second in the nation is assists per set and kills per set. Thomas, outside hitter Lauren Anderson and defensive specialist Jenny Phelan are three of the often unheralded reasons for the lofty stats.
“Everyone talks about the kills and the assists, but the truth of the matter is none of that happens without a decent pass,” Lipscomb Brandon Rosenthal said. “When you look at what have done nationally statistically most knowledgeable volleyball people will look at what a team is doing passing-wise.”
Thomas did receive some recognition this season as an ASUN Second Team All-Conference member and an ASUN All-Tournament team selection.
“I think it was awesome for Tommy to be named Second Team,” Rosenthal said. “She is a workhorse. Some of the plays she made in the final match with Florida Gulf Coast in the ASUN Tournament were huge.
“Defensively, she has the ability to make outstanding plays. She also has the ability to be really disciplined. She is extremely fast. You don’t always recognize how many balls she is able to get to because she makes it look easier than it is.”
No passing fancy
Thomas did not become an effective passer overnight and she views it as one of the more difficult parts of the game to do well.
“It was the weakest part of my game until college,” Thomas said. “Defense is still my favorite.
“The thing about passing is you learn from experience. It is mainly a mindset. If you think you can pass the ball you will. And if you don’t think you can pass it you won’t be successful
Techniques play a role as well. Thomas stresses the importance of moving your feet, getting stops, seeing the ball and understanding angles.
“You can go on and on and talk about it all you want, but unless you have the experience you are not going to be able to master it,” Thomas said. “Reps are the best way to get better in volleyball especially in serve-receive.
“Confidence is the key. It is always a battle of server versus passer. If you believe you can pass the serve no matter what kind of serve it is I think you are going to be successful.”
Feeling the power
Thomas has always been a libero. She won a national championship at the age of 12. K.C. Power formed the base for her success on the volleyball court.
“I really learned how to work hard there,” Thomas said. “I thought I knew how to work hard before.”
She started playing for Gwenn Pike, a coach Thomas calls “a legend” in the Kansas City area, and then played for Mike and Daniel Stowell.
“The Stowells taught me to keep pushing and be the best I can be,” Thomas said. “I really learned at Power how much I loved the sport and how much I wanted to continue playing.
“Gymnastics was kind of person. Soccer was fun. But volleyball is different. Something different happens on every point. I don’t think I have ever played two points the same in my entire career. It is so unique. I think that is what drew me to it.”
Willing to sacrifice
Thomas calls her willingness to dive for balls as simply a part of the game. She credits Pike with emphasizing the importance of hitting the floor.
“I was always banged up as a 14-year-old,” Thomas said. “I would have scabs on my hips and elbows. I learned it was part of my position.
“It is just as important of setting passes and serving. I think if you can see the results of that effort it is going to make you want to do it continuously. That is how Lauren Anderson is and Jenny is and the rest of the team. We are going to sacrifice our bodies to get it done.”
A late call
Another Kansas native, Lipscomb associate head coach Billy Ebel, is heavily responsible for Thomas playing for Lipscomb. She was on the verge of playing a little more than a mile down the boulevard for Belmont.
“She played with a really good club team (K.C. Power),” Rosenthal said. “She was recruited relatively late.
“When Billy got hired I asked him what was going on with Brittany. We had watched her because she had played on the same team with Chloe.”
Rosenthal waited almost a year to call Thomas, but he wasted no time that day making the call. Her response to the call was “Why now?”
Admitting he doesn’t like to reflect on the past, Rosenthal may not know how close he was to losing Thomas.
“In June or July of my junior year, right before nationals, I have my phone dialed to call Belmont,” Thomas said. “I was about to call and commit and I erased the number and called Danielle Stowell instead. She told me to wait until after nationals.
“Billy had coached me at K.C. Power and lived about 10 minutes from my house. I visited Lipscomb after nationals. I fell in love with the campus. I am so happy I am at Lipscomb.”
