A Day in the Life of Skyler Pierce

Have you ever wondered what the daily routine of a top-notch collegiate athlete looks like? I had the chance to ask Skyler Pierce about her action-packed day-to-day spring slate as a volleyball player for the University of Nebraska, and it's a true testament to her work ethic and mental fortitude. Productive lifestyles undeniably contribute to success, and Skyler’s manner of living epitomizes that to a T. 

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She is up bright and early at 6AM everyday, before heading to team lift at the Hawks Championship Center at 7AM (something I could not even fathom doing on a daily basis and am extremely impressed by). Afterwards, it's breakfast at the training table, where all the student athletes congregate for their meals. The rest of her day differs depending on the weekday; on Mondays and Wednesdays, she heads back to her apartment to shower, dress, study, and catch up on homework, before film study at 11AM with Assistant Coach Jaylen Reyes. She will stop by the training table again at noon for lunch, as well as checking in with the nutritionist, advisors, and other appointments. 

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Skyler has class from 2:35 to 3:45, and then it’s time to head over to Bob and prep for practice. The team practices from 4PM to 7PM, but Skyler has to leave early at 6:15 for her 6:30 class. She mentions that the nutritionists bring her dinner during this time “because they are the best.” On Sunday and Monday nights, she helps coach at VCN (Volleyball Club Nebraska), and heads home at 9PM for a late night meal. She finishes off the night with film study at 10PM, before bedtime at 10:30.

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On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it’s the same morning routine up to breakfast, but has class 8:30 to 10:50. She immediately heads to the training table afterwards for lunch, and has another class afterwards until 1:50. At 1:55, it’s time for pre-practice prep – including rehab, laundry, and of course, team TikToks – before it begins at 2:45. The team trains until 5PM, where they do cool-down stretches before heading to dinner. After eating, Skyler typically heads back to her room to do homework, chores, or hangout with her teammates/friends. Her night routine remains the same; consisting of food, film, and well-earned fatigue. 

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Her schedule on Fridays is noticeably lighter, retaining her morning and night routine, but working around a 1PM to 4PM practice time. I asked Skyler about her initial impressions of Dani Busboom-Kell’s practices and her coaching style, to which she replied; “Coach Dani is awesome. She runs practices differently than Coach Cook did, so it’s all fun and new each day.” With a shorter indoor season and a more-padded schedule, the team has spent lots of time scrimmaging, which they have all enjoyed over monotonous drills. “If you committed to Nebraska in the last few years, you knew this transition would happen at some point and it has been seamless,” Skyler says. “I’m grateful to be coached by both!”

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