Between classes, internships, practices, tournaments and executive board responsibilities,
the officers of the UNT Men’s Volleyball Club have learned that building a successful
team requires many of the same skills needed to build a successful career: communication,
accountability, leadership and, of course, knowing how to manage the numbers.
This year, the club’s executive board includes four senior Finance and Accounting majors: Hung Nguyen, President and Finance major; Braden Lequieu, Vice President and Accounting major; Zachary Cook, Treasurer and Finance major; and Eric Oxendine, Fundraising Chair and Business Finance major.
While their majors may prepare them for careers in financial analysis, accounting and business, their time on the court is teaching them lessons that can’t be found in a textbook. And they’re putting those lessons to work.
The UNT Men’s Volleyball Club began as a way for students to continue playing a sport they loved while pursuing their degrees. What started as a smaller group of players has evolved into a more organized and competitive student organization, complete with structured practices, competitions, fundraising, leadership and relationships with collegiate clubs across Texas.
The club has even taken its competition beyond UNT, including competing at NCVF Nationals. But for the student leaders, growth isn't measured solely by wins and tournament appearances. One of their greatest sources of pride is that the club remains student-led.
“Each executive board has the opportunity to build on what the previous group created,” they shared.
That mindset of improving what exists while creating something sustainable for the future, is one that feels particularly at home in the world of business.
For these four students, continuing to play volleyball while pursuing demanding business degrees requires one thing above all else: balance.
Volleyball provides an outlet from academics, but it also reinforces the discipline needed to succeed in the classroom.
Between studying, classes, practices, tournaments, work and personal responsibilities, there is always something competing for their attention. Learning to prioritize and manage their time has become part of their education, just in a different setting.
Having something they are passionate about outside the classroom has also helped them become better students. And the lessons extend well beyond time management.
The volleyball court has become its own kind of leadership laboratory.
Players have learned how to communicate with different personalities, make decisions under pressure and take responsibility when things don't go according to plan. Perhaps most importantly, they've learned that leadership isn't always about being the loudest person in the room, or on the court.
Sometimes leadership means being consistent. Sometimes it means holding teammates accountable. Sometimes it means listening. And sometimes it means making sure everyone is working toward the same goal.
Those lessons translate directly to the classroom, internships and future careers.
Communication, in particular, is essential both on and off the court. In volleyball, players have to constantly communicate so everyone knows what is happening. In business, the same principle applies to group projects, internships, meetings and professional relationships.
Then there is resilience.
A volleyball player will inevitably make mistakes, lose points, drop a set or lose a match. The key is learning to reset and focus on the next opportunity. It's a lesson that applies just as well to a difficult exam, a challenging internship or a career setback.
It may be coincidence that four Finance and Accounting seniors currently occupy the club's top leadership positions, but their presence illustrates the natural connection between business education and student leadership.
Business students regularly develop skills in teamwork, communication, organization, problem-solving and decision-making. But the students are quick to point out that leadership isn't exclusive to business majors.
Volleyball itself creates opportunities for students to step up and take ownership.
The club needs people to manage different areas of the organization. From recruitment and fundraising to finances, events and relationships with other universities. What matters most is having students who are willing to contribute. That spirit is at the heart of the club's culture.
This season, the team has its sights set high.
Competitively, the goal is to continue raising the level of play at UNT, compete against some of the strongest collegiate clubs in the region and make another strong run toward Nationals. But the students are thinking beyond the next match.
They want to strengthen recruitment, fundraising, sponsorships, communication and relationships with other universities. Most importantly, they want to leave the club stronger than they found it.
For prospective business students wondering whether they have to choose between academics and athletics, the answer from the team is simple: you don't.
Being part of a team creates a community beyond your major. It introduces students to people with different backgrounds and personalities while teaching them how to communicate, handle pressure, collaborate and hold themselves accountable.
And perhaps most importantly, college goes by quickly.
If there is something you love, they say, it's worth finding a way to keep it in your life.
For the members of UNT Men’s Volleyball Club, that passion happens to come with a little competition, a lot of teamwork and four Finance and Accounting seniors who are proving that sometimes the best way to balance the books is to balance the books, the blocks and everything in between.