O my, what a senior year! Olivia returns to McCook

Thursday, January 16, 2020
McCook-born Olivia Nicholson spoke to McCook High’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes on Saturday as she proudly donned the Bison red for this special event. Olivisa is the daugher of former McCook High coach and teacher Steve Nicholson.
Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — It’s not always easy remains one message, but what an amazing journey Olivia Nicholson recalled while never forgetting where it all began.

“This feels like home, so many friends I’ve kept in touch with over the years,” one of the nation’s most versatile collegiate volleyball players proclaimed about a certain Nebraska town. “There’s something special about McCook, Nebraska. I just love it.”

Nicholson returned last weekend for another special message to McCook’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Even after an intense contest, it’s great to see how many opposing high school teams across nebraska still gather together and offer prayers. Chase County joined the Southern Valley Eagles following their varsity game at McCook Community College’s Graff Events Center Tuesday evening.
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

She’s just finished a spectacular final college season where the Colorado State University Rams set an all-time school record for wins in one year.

The Rams’ 29-2 campaign featured a perfect 18-0 mark against Mountain West Conference schools.

They also knocked off big bad Top 25-ranked Colorado Buffaloes twice, upset Atlantic Coast Conference power Florida State and made it 23 straight “Border War” wins over those rival Wyoming Cowboys.

The 6’ Nicholson often delivered her best performances against top opponents. She ripped nine kills with four blocks vs. Wyoming and another eight when CSU clinched its conference title by beating previous champ Boise State.

Her final regular-season match at Moby Arena featured eight kills and eight digs in a tough five-set win over 23-8 Denver University.

Yet through it all, the daughter of former McCook coach/teacher Steve Nicholson showed her greatest strength was versatility.

“Olivia is one of the few people, probably in the country, that can be a six-rotation middle attacker,” Colorado State head coach Tom Hilbert said. “That made a big difference.”

Indeed. Olivia ranked among the Rams’ top five all season in every stat from kills to digs to assists.

“I’m so thankful I had the tools in my toolbox to player whatever was needed for my team,” she said. “I think I played four or five positions which is insane, but I don’t regret any of it.”

However, Olivia might regret a previous sentence saying versatility was her great strength.

She knows power and a relentless positivity can’t be shown on any scoreboard or stat sheet.

No fan saw her earliest days at Colorado State, where the North Platte alum struggled to make friends and obviously wondered about her decisions.

She shared all those thoughts and emotions during a previous McCook FCA gathering on April 20.

Olivia had just finished a historic spring volleyball match where Colorado State played the Nebraska Cornhuskers at McCook’s Graff Events Center.

“It was weird being in a different color where people weren’t always cheering for me,” she said. “But I had the best time.”

She also mentioned her best friend through every match and day:

Eternal faith in someone never reported to be seen on a court, diamond or field.

“It’s such a big difference to playing sports without Jesus and now with him,” she explained. “How can we grow his kingdom and show his love through the sport? I think it is such an amazing opportunity.”

“I have an incredible platform because of sports, to show what God has done in my life and help build his kingdom,” she added.

Olivia shared her faith again to a crowd that gathered in McCook last weekend.

Her college volleyball players are virtually finished since CSU’s five-set NCAA tournament loss to South Carolina at Seattle, Wash., in December.

Olivia might play some beach volleyball, but her main focus now is earning a Master’s Degree in educational counseling at whatever school she attends.

After that, she’ll enter the professional working world where those sports team days really become memories ...

But her message will almost certainly never fade away.

“There’s so many different aspects of my life the Lord has touched,” she said. “It just depends on what he puts on my heart to share.”

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