Denvyr Tyler-Palmer, freshman biology major, knows that hard work and determination are the keys to succeeding in any sport.
Tyler-Palmer began playing volleyball in seventh grade but did not find immediate success in the sport.
“I thought I would enjoy it, but I was really bad at it at first,” she said. “But I stuck with it, and, eventually, I came to love it.”
Originally from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Tyler-Palmer moved to Jacksonville, where she attended Bishop Kenny High School. She played varsity volleyball all four years and helped lead the team to a state championship in 2014 as team MVP. In her senior year of high school, Tyler-Palmer was also named the All First-Coast Player of the Year and Florida Dairy Farmers Class 5A Player of the Year.
In addition to playing high school volleyball, Tyler-Palmer also played club volleyball for the Jacksonville Junior Volleyball Association.
Tyler-Palmer explained her passion for volleyball.
How did you end up at NSU?
“It was a long recruiting process because I decided that I wanted to play college volleyball my senior year. So, through high school and through club volleyball, I was able to find a few schools who wanted me. I went on a lot of different visits, but NSU ended up being the right school for me.”
After college, do you plan to continue playing volleyball?
“That’s hard to say because there aren’t a lot of options for volleyball after the college level. I could potentially play overseas, which some players end up doing, but we’ll see how it goes.”
If you don’t end up playing volleyball, what would you want to do career-wise?
“I’m thinking of doing something in the medical field. I don’t know if that means a doctor or a physician’s assistant, but, hopefully, I’ll end up somewhere around there.”
How do you balance being a student and an athlete?
“It’s tough, but I make sure I get a lot of rest and that I do my homework as soon as I have time.”
How would you describe yourself as an athlete?
“Competitive and hardworking. I also like to have fun with my teammates.”
What do you think is the hardest part of playing volleyball?
“Conditioning is definitely difficult. But it makes us better and helps us as a team.”
What is the most rewarding part of playing volleyball?
“I think seeing my teammates push each other and seeing us all grow as players and athletes and watching us work toward our goal and get better every day.”
Have you had any coaches who have influenced or inspired you throughout your volleyball career?
“My high school coach was very influential because you could tell how much she cared about us as a team, and how much she wanted us to grow and reach our goals. She was really inspiring, and it was great to have her influence all of us; you could see her impact on everyone.”
Are there any professional athletes whom you look up to?
“I don’t really have a number-one athlete whom I look up to right now.”
Since you’re only a freshman, do you have any goals set for yourself throughout your collegiate career?
“I definitely want our team to be able to make it to conference—that’s a big goal for us. It would be great to be a part of that in the years to come.”
If you could change one thing about the sport of volleyball, what would it be?
“Maybe the stereotype that volleyball players don’t have to work as hard [as other athletes]. People think that we don’t have to do as much work because we play on a very small court, but it’s actually the opposite. I think [the volleyball team] is actually one of the hardest working teams here.”
What motivates the volleyball team to achieve that hard work ethic?
“I think we motivate each other. We’re always cheering for one another, and we try to push each other to our limits.”
Does the team have any special rituals they perform to get ready for a game?
“In the locker room, a lot of us do different things, but we usually listen to music. That pumps us up a lot. Our captains usually talk to us before the match and give us a pep talk, which is really beneficial.”
Are you involved in anything at NSU aside from athletics?
“The team volunteers at Davie Middle School, and we go into one of the first grade classrooms, and we color with them and read to them. It’s a lot of fun.”
When you’re not practicing or in a game, what do you enjoy doing?
“Sleeping, definitely. I take naps whenever I can.”
caption: Even though Tyler-Palmer didn’t immediately fall in love with Volleyball, her passion for the sport grew and led her to play for the Sharks.
Photo Credit: PRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM J. FRAYSURE
