Playing volleyball is like breathing for Millard North High School senior Makenzie Kucks. “I’m proud I’ll be playing Division 1 volleyball at Lipscomb University,” she said. “I always knew I wanted to play in college, and I’m grateful that I will be able to do that. The volleyball program at Lipscomb is great, and I am so excited I will be living in Nashville. It’s a little scary going that far away, but when I visited the school, I could easily picture it being my home.”
Kucks began playing volleyball with the YMCA as a first grader, but later she tried out for an 11u team at Premier and made her first club team. “My favorite club teams were 13 Black and 15 Red. Both of those teams were so special, and I will remember them forever. I loved my teammates and made really good connections with my coaches on 13 Black. One of them (Meagen Beacom) became my family’s nanny for several years and later on became my high school coach. She isn’t my high school coach anymore, but I still talk to her all the time. I was even a bridesmaid in her wedding. My 15 Red team was special because I love my teammates so much. We had such a great bond that led to us triple qualifying for nationals. Those two club teams helped shape what I think makes a team great.”
Kucks can’t say enough about her club team. “Playing at Premier is just the absolute best. I can’t even imagine playing for a different club. I have played at almost every level at Premier (1st team, 2nd team, and 3rd team) and it doesn’t matter where you are because you get quality coaching no matter what. We are one of the top clubs in the nation and the number one club in Nebraska, and I love being able to play at a place that is so highly regarded.”
Meagen Beacom, Kuck’s former Premier club coach, stated, “Kenzie is one of the most driven and passionate players I have ever coached. She holds herself to the highest standard (on and off the court) and is always pushing herself to be better. She holds herself accountable, which is why her teammates put so much trust in her. She is always the first one to pick up a teammate when they are down and hype them up when they do something good. I have loved watching Kenzie grow into the player that she is today. She is determined to be the best that she can be. It has been such a privilege to coach her, and I’m so excited to see the amazing things she is going to accomplish at the next level.”
Playing for Millard North has also been a wonderful experience. “Being part of the Millard North team is great. I am confident that this 2024 season could be the year we go to state.” Rian Robison, former Millard North volleyball coach believes in Kucks. “Kenzie is the hardest working volleyball player I’ve ever had the privilege to coach. Her dedication to the sport is matched by her exceptional coachability, making her an indispensable asset to any team. Kenzie consistently demonstrates a team-first mindset, always prioritizing the collective success over individual accolades. In her sophomore year, Kenzie made a significant switch in positions, moving to libero. Despite the challenges and frustration that a switch like this can create, she embraced it with determination and tireless effort.”
Kucks focuses solely on volleyball and school as well as family. “I take my school very seriously, so when I’m not playing volleyball I am usually doing homework. However, when I do get some free time, I love to hang out with my little brother Maddox. We have a ten-year age gap but we love to get Starbucks together, play board games and video games, and play outside together. When I’m with my friends we usually just hang out, go shopping, or get food.”
Kucks gets her motivation from within, but her competitive streak comes from her family. “I get my motivation from myself. I wouldn’t say anyone has to push me to get up and get some extra reps or go to workouts, but I am definitely surrounded by a great family, teammates, and coaches that make it easy to always want to work though. My competitiveness definitely comes from my family though. Me and my siblings compete in absolutely everything we do. Family games at our house are serious business.”
