MADISON, Wis. – Get an inside look at the sixth-ranked Badger volleyball team all season long as sophomore Nicole Shanahan writes a bi-weekly blog called Side Out with Shanny!
 
In her second blog, Shanahan, a 6-2 middle blocker from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, writes about the Badgers first road trip of the season and how the Badgers tend to stand out as a group.

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According to Medical News Today, the average height for a woman raised in the United States is 5-feet-4. However, when playing for a volleyball team in which 10 of its 15 players are at least six feet tall, it is easy to forget about that statistic.
 
The difference between my team's height and the average woman's is particularly highlighted when going outside the gym, and to places like the classroom, the Terrace, or even the grocery store. When traveling as a pack, it is safe to say that we collectively physically rise above the average group of humans we come across!
 
A great reminder of our gifted statures comes on a day we must pack up and head elsewhere to defend the W. It is this day we refer to as 'travel day.'
 
This year, our first commercial flight of the season was out of the Dane County Airport. From 5-foot-4 to 6-foot-8, we strode through the entry doors in our Cardinal Red and White zip ups, our tightly packed Under Armour suitcases strolling behind us. Inhaling deeply, a combination of coffee, newspapers, and people filled my lungs. Overpowering a cacophony of noises from security and nearby jets, there were several almighty "Go Badgers!" that emerged from the mouths of local travelers. It brought upon a feeling of pride, as it was great to see the amount of support we had behind us.
 
Once we reached airport security, a long line awaited us, giving us the opportunity to have a little fun in order to pass the time. A game of "How many tags can we get on Dana's backpack without her noticing?" began. Taking paper luggage tags in a box near us, we took turns stringing them onto the back of her book bag. A few minutes into the game, we were caught in the act of putting the 13th tag on her bag. Fortunately, by this time we had finally made it to the front of the line, allowing us to proceed on our journey.
 
The majority of us spend our time in the terminal working on homework. This is a great break for us to stay updated with the classes we are missing, or to work on assignments due the next week, in order to get ahead. For those lucky enough to have completed their schoolwork, an intense and extremely competitive game of Candy Crush tends to resume. As of now, our best Candy Crush player is Riley Bell, closely followed by Grace Loberg.
 


Once we arrived in Texas, we took on another large crowd of people that once again reminded us of our gifted height. Together, we heard a mix of "Volleyball or basketball?" "Wow, those girls are tall!" (in which we respond by standing even taller), or the best of them all, "GO BUCKY!"
 
This remark brought upon a feeling of amazement for me, as I was able to experience firsthand how incredible the UW fan base is. From over 988 miles away, there were still so many people that came up to us to describe their love and support for UW Madison and Badger Athletics. Seeing this makes us feel extremely honored to be given the opportunity to represent the University. The passionate fan base and incredible alumni is a big part of what makes Wisconsin so special.
 
Once reaching this point in our day, the traveling adventure is almost complete. All that is left to do is grab our luggage and head off towards an arena filled with competition eagerly anticipating our arrival.
 
Throughout my life, a lot of people have asked me if I enjoy being as tall as I am. I can now honestly answer them by saying that I absolutely love it! Although the average individual tends to be a bit smaller than me and my teammates in the airport, classroom, and rest of the outside world, you will never find us shrinking down in order to be smaller. As a matter of fact, you can catch a good portion of us in heels when given the opportunity to put them on.
 
It is easy to have insecurities when standing out in a crowd, but by embracing that quality, confidence will be a direct result.
 
On Wisconsin!
Shanny