Deacon Sports Xtra: Murphy Discovers World Class Student-Athlete Experience at U.S. Air Force Academy Leadership Conference
4/3/2025 8:54:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Wake Forest volleyball hitter took part in an annual flagship event in Colorado Springs.
Here's a question that may sound all too familiar – what makes a good leader?
Frankly, regardless of the answer provided, it is all subjective anyways. Anyone can ask around and receive a handful of different responses. What can be agreed upon, however, is leadership is an aspect of everyday life that can initiate thought-provoking discussions.
Now here's a quote that likely sounds familiar – Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.
There is definitely a correlation there. Life is all about learning and, more times than not, effective leaders do not have the answers right away. A constant hunger for growth, willingness to make adaptations, seeking knowledge, and on and on – it is all required, especially in today's rapidly changing society.
Olivia Murphy, a standout hitter for the Wake Forest volleyball squad, was recently able to seize her own opportunity off the hardwood, attending the 2025 National Character and Leadership Symposium (NCLS) in Colorado Springs, hosted by the United States Air Force Academy. The event ultimately proved eye-opening for the Indianapolis native, having spent a past 12 months full of perseverance.
"I believe nominations can be made for two people per leadership conference at every military base," Murphy explained. "My professor nominated me from our class. He also knows a lot about our volleyball team and felt it would be a good opportunity for me to carry leadership skills over to volleyball."
Across the Demon Deacons' 18 competing teams, Wake Forest student-athletes have done well in earning nominations from their mentors for various events over the years. Excellence in the classroom will always stand out, as Murphy is a two-time All-ACC Academic Team pick. Soon, while packing her bags for The Centennial State, a few interests came to mind.
"I never have really done anything like this, so I was a bit skeptical at first. I'm majoring in Accounting and that felt pretty low compared to military leadership. I just wanted to be able to adapt everything they were going to say to my own life. Not taking everything word for word, but just really hearing the whole story behind everything."
With a layout stretching through two days of activities, NCLS brings together a mix of distinguished scholars, military leaders, corporate executives and student-athletes. The schedule featured a handful of presentations and panels, along with social hours. This year's theme centered around Warfighters to Win, an influence on becoming a leader of character.
"It was very official when we first arrived in Colorado. You had to give your ID to get on the base and receive an official name tag. I got to stay in the dorms with two cadets, one of them was actually on their volleyball team, which was pretty cool. I was able to meet a lot of people – it was interesting to find out how much of a religious place the Air Force Academy was. I was able to do bible studies with them and learn the different personalities. Hearing their reasons for serving this country was super impactful.
"After we listened to the speaker series in the morning, it was up to us to explore the campus in the afternoon. It was mainly one big quad and very pretty with the mountains in the background. I liked seeing the dorms, academic buildings and planes. I think the flying range was somewhere else close by."
Among the number of present speakers, one that especially stood out to Murphy happened to be a popular name in the room – Sully Sullenberger. The retired aviator is perhaps best known for his inspiring actions as captain of the U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in January 2009, when he made an emergency landing on the Hudson River after both engines were disabled by a bird strike. Described as the "most successful ditching in aviation history," Sullenberger was recognized with many awards and honors for his efforts, including being named one of Time's 100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons in its 2009 edition.
"For me, [Sullenberger] was definitely my favorite speaker. His main point emphasized that, if you want to be a good leader, you have to know that you're the best at what you do. You can never question your abilities, and that's how he got through his landing in the Hudson River. He was confident in his plan and how to accomplish it, there wasn't one second wasted in questioning himself. Just taking that into volleyball especially, it was a reminder to know that we, as players, are good at what we do and that can carry over to both leadership and wins.
"I personally didn't know much about Sully before then, but it was cool because the girl that was my host during that week was on the flying team, which is only a group of about 20 people. So, they were able to hold a private talk with Sully and were all hyped up. Once they suggested that I look more into it, it started to sound familiar and I texted my parents. My dad, who served in the Army, told me how jealous he was that I was going to be a part of this, which let me know it was the real deal. I knew I was going to try to get a picture with him. Still, since it was just with the flying team, I didn't know how I could make my way into asking, with me being unrelated with anything tied to the Air Force. However, I found out that he went to Purdue for a year and, with me being from Indiana, we were able to make a connection."
Back fully healthy for the start of the preseason this past fall, Murphy's presence gave the Deacs a lift, seamlessly picking up where she left off as an aggressive hitting option. Following the team's first weekend of the 2024 season, a three-day hosted invitational, she was named to the All-Tournament Team. Murphy went on to finish fourth on the roster in both kills and blocks while playing in 28 of Wake Forest's 31 matches. In addition, she will be the returning leader in blocks for 2025.
"With our group right now this spring, our focus is fairly individual in trying to grow ourselves as much as we can. We've spent some good 1-on-1 time with the coaches, outside of team practices. So, I've been trying to improve my game in all aspects, especially focusing on blocking and becoming a more powerful blocker. Also, sharpening up my shots and being aware of what all of my teammates are working on, so that we can all build each other up as we keep pushing together."
Takeaways from her trip to Colorado are set to play an additional role in Murphy's day-to-day approach, now acting as a veteran of the volleyball program. Sullenberger's talk and other various recountings have stuck with her, with plenty to implement into a growing mindset.
"Some speakers had a commanding presence that made us feel they truly knew what they were doing. Getting to meet and hear from them, I want to carry that energy with me, when I step on the court. Being able to get the point across and making others feel the same. That type of power is something on the volleyball court that a good leader needs.
"Another speaker made a strong point about, whenever you're in a leadership position, you need to take culture into account in the way that people act. People grow up in different ways, so that translates to the court too in making sure you don't jump the gun and make assumptions. Everyone is formed differently and keeping an open mind for all of your teammates will make you realize that, if they're here, their heart is here for Wake and the way that you lead them starts with understanding.
"In a future career, all of the same will probably happen again if you are in a leadership position. Eventually, I'd like to be a CFO, and I know that my decisions will need to be spot on. If I've done the proper things, I shouldn't need to question myself with doubt because I've done the research to back it up."
Frankly, regardless of the answer provided, it is all subjective anyways. Anyone can ask around and receive a handful of different responses. What can be agreed upon, however, is leadership is an aspect of everyday life that can initiate thought-provoking discussions.
Now here's a quote that likely sounds familiar – Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.
There is definitely a correlation there. Life is all about learning and, more times than not, effective leaders do not have the answers right away. A constant hunger for growth, willingness to make adaptations, seeking knowledge, and on and on – it is all required, especially in today's rapidly changing society.
Olivia Murphy, a standout hitter for the Wake Forest volleyball squad, was recently able to seize her own opportunity off the hardwood, attending the 2025 National Character and Leadership Symposium (NCLS) in Colorado Springs, hosted by the United States Air Force Academy. The event ultimately proved eye-opening for the Indianapolis native, having spent a past 12 months full of perseverance.
***
An Accounting major, Murphy's skills in both the classroom and her sport drew the attention of her Organizational Behavior professor in the university's business school. After about a month into the spring semester, opportunity called."I believe nominations can be made for two people per leadership conference at every military base," Murphy explained. "My professor nominated me from our class. He also knows a lot about our volleyball team and felt it would be a good opportunity for me to carry leadership skills over to volleyball."
Across the Demon Deacons' 18 competing teams, Wake Forest student-athletes have done well in earning nominations from their mentors for various events over the years. Excellence in the classroom will always stand out, as Murphy is a two-time All-ACC Academic Team pick. Soon, while packing her bags for The Centennial State, a few interests came to mind.
"I never have really done anything like this, so I was a bit skeptical at first. I'm majoring in Accounting and that felt pretty low compared to military leadership. I just wanted to be able to adapt everything they were going to say to my own life. Not taking everything word for word, but just really hearing the whole story behind everything."
With a layout stretching through two days of activities, NCLS brings together a mix of distinguished scholars, military leaders, corporate executives and student-athletes. The schedule featured a handful of presentations and panels, along with social hours. This year's theme centered around Warfighters to Win, an influence on becoming a leader of character.
"It was very official when we first arrived in Colorado. You had to give your ID to get on the base and receive an official name tag. I got to stay in the dorms with two cadets, one of them was actually on their volleyball team, which was pretty cool. I was able to meet a lot of people – it was interesting to find out how much of a religious place the Air Force Academy was. I was able to do bible studies with them and learn the different personalities. Hearing their reasons for serving this country was super impactful.
"After we listened to the speaker series in the morning, it was up to us to explore the campus in the afternoon. It was mainly one big quad and very pretty with the mountains in the background. I liked seeing the dorms, academic buildings and planes. I think the flying range was somewhere else close by."
Among the number of present speakers, one that especially stood out to Murphy happened to be a popular name in the room – Sully Sullenberger. The retired aviator is perhaps best known for his inspiring actions as captain of the U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in January 2009, when he made an emergency landing on the Hudson River after both engines were disabled by a bird strike. Described as the "most successful ditching in aviation history," Sullenberger was recognized with many awards and honors for his efforts, including being named one of Time's 100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons in its 2009 edition.
"For me, [Sullenberger] was definitely my favorite speaker. His main point emphasized that, if you want to be a good leader, you have to know that you're the best at what you do. You can never question your abilities, and that's how he got through his landing in the Hudson River. He was confident in his plan and how to accomplish it, there wasn't one second wasted in questioning himself. Just taking that into volleyball especially, it was a reminder to know that we, as players, are good at what we do and that can carry over to both leadership and wins.
"I personally didn't know much about Sully before then, but it was cool because the girl that was my host during that week was on the flying team, which is only a group of about 20 people. So, they were able to hold a private talk with Sully and were all hyped up. Once they suggested that I look more into it, it started to sound familiar and I texted my parents. My dad, who served in the Army, told me how jealous he was that I was going to be a part of this, which let me know it was the real deal. I knew I was going to try to get a picture with him. Still, since it was just with the flying team, I didn't know how I could make my way into asking, with me being unrelated with anything tied to the Air Force. However, I found out that he went to Purdue for a year and, with me being from Indiana, we were able to make a connection."
***
The NCLS' 2025 theme, Warfighters to Win, has been expressed as the embodiment of the warrior spirit: tough-mindedness, tireless motivation and an unceasing vigilance. In a way, Murphy is able to tie the essence to her own athletic journey throughout the last year. Taking a redshirt season for the 2023-24 campaign during her second year, she can recall countless hours of recovery and training with a determination to return to the floor – a challenging process that continued through spring and summer 2024. Back fully healthy for the start of the preseason this past fall, Murphy's presence gave the Deacs a lift, seamlessly picking up where she left off as an aggressive hitting option. Following the team's first weekend of the 2024 season, a three-day hosted invitational, she was named to the All-Tournament Team. Murphy went on to finish fourth on the roster in both kills and blocks while playing in 28 of Wake Forest's 31 matches. In addition, she will be the returning leader in blocks for 2025.
"With our group right now this spring, our focus is fairly individual in trying to grow ourselves as much as we can. We've spent some good 1-on-1 time with the coaches, outside of team practices. So, I've been trying to improve my game in all aspects, especially focusing on blocking and becoming a more powerful blocker. Also, sharpening up my shots and being aware of what all of my teammates are working on, so that we can all build each other up as we keep pushing together."
Takeaways from her trip to Colorado are set to play an additional role in Murphy's day-to-day approach, now acting as a veteran of the volleyball program. Sullenberger's talk and other various recountings have stuck with her, with plenty to implement into a growing mindset.
"Some speakers had a commanding presence that made us feel they truly knew what they were doing. Getting to meet and hear from them, I want to carry that energy with me, when I step on the court. Being able to get the point across and making others feel the same. That type of power is something on the volleyball court that a good leader needs.
"Another speaker made a strong point about, whenever you're in a leadership position, you need to take culture into account in the way that people act. People grow up in different ways, so that translates to the court too in making sure you don't jump the gun and make assumptions. Everyone is formed differently and keeping an open mind for all of your teammates will make you realize that, if they're here, their heart is here for Wake and the way that you lead them starts with understanding.
"In a future career, all of the same will probably happen again if you are in a leadership position. Eventually, I'd like to be a CFO, and I know that my decisions will need to be spot on. If I've done the proper things, I shouldn't need to question myself with doubt because I've done the research to back it up."
Players Mentioned
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