Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

Rebekah Allick celebrates on the court. Photo courtesy Nebraska Athletics

Dennis Kellogg, Southern Nebraska Register: When you came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, you were not Catholic, and shortly after being there, you did make the decision to become Catholic. What changed for you?

Rebekah Allick, Husker Volleyball Student-Athlete: Friends. I remember coming to the university, and I kind of had a fallout with a lot of friends in high school, and I just felt really disconnected... I ran into (the older sister of a former teammate) in the study hall area. She mentioned a Bible study. So I went, and I didn’t know it was a Catholic Bible study, but I thought it was my chance to finally make good Christian friends. And from that Bible study, I got connected with the missionaries and then it just kind of blew up from there, where I met other athletes that I already admired and respected and wanted to be friends with. And then I found out they were Christian. I found out they were Catholic.

And so I got pulled into this community... I always thought any type of conversion or any type of reach out from God would always be the super profound, dramatic thing. But ironically, me converting to Catholicism, one of the biggest and greatest decisions I've ever made in my life, was actually in a very gentle way, and it was almost like it was always there. I just hadn’t discovered the full truth yet until I became Catholic.

SNR: You’ve been very public about your Catholic faith and your conversion to the Catholic faith. You could have done this very quietly and kind of eased into it, but that’s not what you did. You’re out there talking to high school students. You’re delivering that message. Why? Why do you feel confident and comfortable doing that?

Allick: I feel like God just gave me a mouth that won’t shut up if I'm being honest with you.

I just remember the way that He makes me feel, and how complete I feel, and how excited I am to live life because I've also been on the negative side of it where it's like I was going through the wolves.... I didn’t have a community. I didn’t have balance. So, I would have really high highs and super low lows.

But I will say in the super high highs; I was like all over my Instagram because I'm like “God is amazing and He loves you.”  I just wanted people to experience what I've felt because it's very evident.  I just want more people to do it with me because  I think the world would be a better place if more people knew because just one other person knowing that Jesus loves him and He's real and He's present; that's enough to rock anyone's world.

SNR: Even as a Husker student-athlete you still find time to volunteer for I've Got A Name which is an organization determined to end sex trafficking in Nebraska? Why that effort? Why that cause for you?

Rebekah Allick speaks for “I've Got A Name,” an organization dedicated to ending human trafficking at an April rally at the state capitol.

SNR photo | Natalie Bender

Allick: I'd say it hits really close to home I'd say;  I know plenty of women who have been affected… whether it was pedophiles or even ... grooming in their own household or friends....

It's just that type of innocence; it's really hard to feel like it's been restored because obviously it never really is but just that feeling of security safety worthiness is something that will take years build some women will live their whole life never feeling like they will ever get back.

It's just one those things that's so scary;  and I'd even use word "dark" talk about because when leave conversation all ever think about all women we don't have home all children we don't have home hardest part hear rescue stories but feel every one kid bring home arguable there's like 100000 other kids being sold transported used left dead

That's hardest part... I'm aware platform God gave me know awareness hopefully help one guy put phone down report That's other part I've Got A Name movement found amazing they've had men's awareness part not just OK women keep head swivel try protect children OK men take accountability find ourselves wanting engage children way attack innocence love trying attack fronts sex trafficking found encouraging

SNR: So we made it this far in interview without talking about Husker volleyball We have talk little bit Tell me what think about team How good can team be?

Allick: Think great Think super great Losing last year reflect why do want go through went through last year exact same group Would do all over again That's really figure out What doing Is supposed do God obviously asked back

Felt never viewed teammates people goes young as 11 years old started playing sport tend get focused winning execution missed out people next goes back grace viewing them women hobbies interests seem simple hyper-competitive athletes foreign concept teammates actually feelings....

If watched SMU game stumbled stumbled bad honestly made us better stronger We've had real conversations real honest conversations... I'm excited feel working much harder not only volleyball also being good women respect honesty perseverance qualities face adversity did SMU overcome hopeful

SNR: College time discover yourself learn grow Tell hope Rebekah Allick five ten twenty years now looks how her Catholic faith influencing person

Allick: Just hope making Jesus proud

If honest feel made many mistakes even started talking high-schoolers made mistakes tend beat myself hard think talk grace moving biggest things want able someone look Hey we're human Want someone light understanding stumble That's confessionals believer second chances continue pursue Just want make Him proud It's easy nitpick little faults Church faced exploit people devil knows good he's everything try hide cover up

That's biggest thing too bring people Catholic Church realize homey consider laid back comes talking loving Jesus doesn't giant flashy light show go church Being pew smelling incense somewhere structure tradition incredibly inviting exciting

Watch extended interview Rebekah Allick more questions answers Catholic Diocese Lincoln YouTube channel