We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Vivian Hickman.

***

Having played volleyball since she started in second grade and club since she was 10, our latest Player of the Week not only has her share of experience but she’s developed into a versatile player who excels both indoor and on the sand. Vivian Hickman – a 5-10, 3-star recruit from the Class of 2026 – is currently in her sophomore season at Xavier College Prep in Arizona.

What she brings to a roster has been on full display these past two weekends as the Gators have competed in two prestigious national tournaments in the Durango Fall Classic and Nike TOC Southwest. She’s spent most of the season setting and hitting like she did in Las Vegas, where Xavier Prep finished in 11th place overall out of 64 teams. However, with a short-handed roster in Phoenix, Hickman was asked to perform as a six-rotation outside and helped her team take fifth place out of 32 teams.

“We faced a lot of challenges and we got better,” Hickman said after Durango. “That tournament really continued preparing us for what’s ahead.”

This past summer, Hickman was part of an AZ Sky 15G group which finished tied for 13th in 15 Open at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships in Chicago. There, she split time between running a 5-1 and setting and hitting as part of a 6-2.

Hickman originally started volleyball as an outside before being moved to middle blocker. Then during her 12s season she was moved to setter and that led her to eventually setting and swinging.

“I really do like setting,” she said. “That’s probably my favorite. But hitting does give me the chance to swing.”

Hitting was her full-time responsibility last year as a freshman on varsity. She led Xavier Prep in kills 246, averaging 2.6 per set. She played in all but four sets in her rookie campaign. As a sophomore she’s taken on a dual role. Playing in all but one set so far this season, Hickman leads the Gators in assists 193. She’s also second in both kills (151) and digs (194).

“It’s really fun,” she said of the season so far. “Everyone is so close on the team. We have such great chemistry and trust on the court. We all hang out all the time.”

Beyond indoor, Hickman has enjoyed success in beach as well. She’s been playing that side of the sport for about four years. She said she really got into it when everything was shut down because of Covid. She played last season as part of Xavier’s beach team and was named Section Offensive Player of the Year by AZPreps365.

She’s still not sure whether she’ll play both at the next level or not.

“I’m definitely deciding on that,” she said. “They go hand-and-hand. Beach does compliment playing indoor. I’m liking both. I really do like indoor. It has to be the right opportunity to do both.”

Outside of volleyball, Hickman enjoys baking and reading, as well as spending time with her family and friends. She’s in her first year of being part of the AIA Student Leadership Advisory Committee (SLAC).

“I really like to be involved in a good way,” Hickman said.

She also added that “when I get older I want to go into medicine or be a psychologist. I like to see how people’s brains work and the decisions they make. I would like to help people or even potentially go pro.”

As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Hickman about volleyball and more.

Who is a role model or someone you look up to?

Hickman: I think it’s Serena Williams. I love her passion and grit on the court and how she is so involved in her sport. I just recently started looking into her. She’s really cool and I really like what she’s about. I saw the movie about the sisters and I thought it was really interesting.

What is your favorite food?

Hickman: I really like enchiladas. Chipotle is my favorite restaurant. My go-to order is a burrito with white rice, pinto beans, chicken and queso.

Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why?

Hickman: I would really like to learn photography and how to take high-quality photos. Taking pictures like that would be really fun to learn.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be and why?

Hickman: I would choose to skydive because that seems like it would be so much fun. I would be so scared but I would love the thrill of it.

Aside from necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without?

Hickman: It would probably be Capri Sun. I drink so many of those. I love them. I put them in the freezer and drink them like slushies. I like Pacific Cooler. It’s really good.

What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile?

Hickman: My family and friends. When I see them we start cracking jokes and they make me laugh.

If you could have any superpower what would it be and why?

Hickman: I would want to have the ability to teleport. I get anxious about time. I don’t like to be late to anything. That would be such a helper and it would save me so much stress.

Outside of volleyball what are you most passionate about and why?

Hickman: I’m really passionate about my school and grades. I’m also passionate about my family and friend bonds because those are really important too.

What is one thing that may surprise people about you?

Hickman: Something that may surprise people is I have a hairless cat and a French bulldog.

What is your strangest, most irrational fear?

Hickman: It’s probably ants because there are so many of them and they are so small that they can get everywhere. An ant infestation is the grossest thing possible because they can go everywhere.

What’s your favorite number and why?

Hickman: My favorite number is 7. My birthday is 11-27-2007. All my siblings’ birthdays all have sevens in them too (Hickman’s younger brothers’ are 10-27 and 3-27 and her younger sister’s is 12-7). In club my number is 7 and in high school it is 16 because one plus six is seven.