Fri Dec 13 18:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Creighton Volleyball Stars Balance Elite Athletics and Nursing Careers

**OMAHA, NE –** Creighton University’s volleyball team, featuring standout seniors and likely All-Americans Norah Sis and Kendra Wait, are making headlines not just for their impressive athletic achievements but also for their demanding careers as nursing students. The duo, both drafted into the Pro Volleyball Federation, juggles intense training and competition with 10-hour clinical shifts at an Omaha hospital. This unique situation makes them outliers in the world of high-level college athletics, where the demands of sports often overshadow academic pursuits.

Sis and Wait’s commitment to both their athletic and academic careers highlights the increasing pressures facing student-athletes in an era of conference realignment and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. While navigating the complexities of NIL opportunities and the rigorous demands of their nursing program, the players helped lead their team to a 29-2 regular season record and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Their recent loss to rival Nebraska, a team they’ve lost to for 20 consecutive games, was a tough setback, but one they quickly moved past. Despite a late-night game and minimal sleep, both were at their 6:30 a.m. clinical shift on time. Their coach, Kirsten Bernthal Booth, noted their dedication: “They don’t minimize any of their responsibilities on either side of it.” Even their professor, Amy Abbott, praised their dedication, describing them as “sweet as pie to their patients, but bad mamba jambas on the court.”

Creighton is unique among top-tier volleyball programs for having multiple nursing majors on its roster. The team’s success, combined with the players’ academic achievements, highlights their exceptional dedication and work ethic. While their professional volleyball futures remain uncertain, both Sis and Wait express their joy in pursuing two passions they deeply love. The possibility of a rematch against Nebraska in the NCAA tournament Final Four adds further intrigue to their already remarkable story.

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