Oct. 22, 2009

LAS VEGAS - Each week unlvrebels.com will feature one volleyball student-athlete. This week's featured player is senior middle blocker Samantha Noland.

Noland has tallied the third-best hitting efficiency on the team with a .205 average. She is ranks third in total blocks (27), solo blocks (six) and assisted blocks (21). She is fifth in kills with 66.

She has hit above the .300 mark on five occasions, three of which were better than .400. She has amassed at lest five kills in nine matches this year.

Born: October 14, 1988

Nicknames: Nolie

What's on TV: Samantha Who?

What's in my iPod: Vampire Weekend

What I drive: A blue Honda Accord

Favorite flicks: Zoolander

What I'm reading: "Cocktails for Three" by Madeleine Wickham

Before each match I: I eat sour patch kids and dance in the locker room

Superstitions: I have a certain order of the way I put my gear on

Worst habit: Procrastinating

Love to trade places for a day with: A four year old, I would love to just have fun and not have a care in the world!

First job: Being an assistant coach for Nevada Jrs. Volleyball Club

Talent I'd most like to have: I would love to be able to dance

Favorite meal: Mom's mashed potatoes, baked beans, and Dad's pork loin

Favorite athlete to watch in another sport: Tim Hudson (baseball)

Favorite city to visit: Moraga, Calif.

Favorite team(s) as a kid: Oakland Athletics

Favorite physical attribute about myself: My hands

And least: My knees

Favorite value in others: Ability to laugh at themselves

My greatest love: My family

My hero: My parents

My bucket list: Live a happy life