Holding Hands, Holding Hearts: Ava Vickers from Indiana University on Leadership, Team Culture, and the Power of Connection
Leadership in sports is often seen as the loudest voice in the huddle, the player calling the shots, or the one making the game-winning play. But for Ava Vickers, a sophomore middle blocker at Indiana University, leadership isn’t about being the biggest presence on the court. It’s about emotional intelligence, trust, and finding small yet meaningful ways to bring people together.
Ava’s journey to leadership didn’t begin with a title or an expectation—it evolved from a deep understanding of what makes a team truly successful. “In basketball, you can grab the ball and go score by yourself,” she explains. “But in volleyball, you can’t do it alone. Every single point requires the entire team. That changed the way I viewed leadership.”
That shift in perspective shaped how Ava approaches not just her own role, but the way she lifts up those around her. She doesn’t just want to succeed—she wants to help her teammates succeed too.
Finding Leadership in the Smallest Gestures
For some athletes, leadership is about giving motivational speeches or being the loudest in the gym. For Ava, it’s something different. It’s about reading the energy of the people around her and knowing exactly what they need—even when that means saying nothing at all.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that not everyone responds to words,” she says. “Some people don’t need you to tell them they’re okay; they just need to feel it.”
That’s why Ava has developed one of the most unique habits on her team—holding hands with her teammates during big moments.
“I’ll just grab their hand for a few seconds before a serve, or after a mistake, and it calms them down. It’s this small thing, but I’ve noticed it changes everything. It reminds them they’re not alone,” she says.
It started as a way to settle her own nerves, but over time, it became something bigger. Now, her teammates know what’s coming. “I’ll reach out for a high five, and instead, they just hold my hand for a second. It’s like a reset for all of us.”
The Balance of Strength and Vulnerability
Female athletes often have to navigate an unspoken challenge—being both competitive and nurturing, fierce yet supportive. For Ava, learning to balance those qualities has been an ongoing process.
“I used to think I was a super competitive person in all aspects of life, but really, it’s just in volleyball,” she admits. “Outside of sports, I don’t feel like I have that same drive to ‘win’ everything. But on the court, it’s different. And that’s been something I’ve had to navigate—how to be competitive without losing sight of the fact that I’m also here to support my teammates.”
It’s a challenge that many female athletes face: how to lead with intensity without being seen as “too aggressive”, and how to show emotion without being viewed as “too soft.” Ava recognizes this tightrope, but she also embraces it.
“There’s such a fine line,” she says. “I don’t want to be taken advantage of, but I also don’t want to be so focused on competing that I lose sight of my team. I think that balance is what makes female athletes so unique—we have this ability to be both strong and vulnerable, and that’s powerful.”
Building a Culture That Lasts Beyond the Game
This year, Indiana’s volleyball team found itself in an unusual situation. With only nine players on the spring roster, the team was left with a rare opportunity—to reshape their culture from the ground up.
“When we got back on campus, we all sat in a room together and just talked,” Ava recalls. “We knew this was a chance to build something new, so we picked new team words, decided on a quote to hang in our locker room, and really made sure that every single person—freshman or senior—had a voice.”
For Ava, this wasn’t just about creating a better team for today. It was about laying the foundation for every player who comes after her.
“We want this to be something that lasts. The words we chose, the standards we set—they aren’t just for us. They’re for the next 10 girls who walk into this program.”
What It Really Means to Be a Leader
Ask most people to define leadership, and they’ll probably say it’s about being the best. The most dominant. The one in control. But for Ava, leadership means something entirely different.
“A leader isn’t someone who’s great at everything,” she says. “A leader is someone who makes everyone else great.”
It’s this mindset that fuels how she approaches her role, and why she believes that anyone—no matter their age, experience, or skill level—can be a leader.
“Every single thing you do influences the people around you,” she says. “It’s just a matter of deciding how you want to influence them.”
For Ava, leadership isn’t about commanding attention. It isn’t about scoring the most points. Sometimes, it’s as simple as reaching out, grabbing a teammate’s hand, and reminding them that they’re never in this alone.
And in a sport built on connection, that might just be the most powerful leadership skill of all.
Check out Ava’s instragram here!
https://www.instagram.com/avavickers_?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
