In the lab, Priscilla Lages and her fellow graduate students form a dynamic team, bringing diverse skills together to pursue a shared goal.
The same is true when she is on the volleyball court.
Lages is in the Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBS) program at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. For over a year, she and her classmates have gathered at Marikka’s, a Lexington, Ky., to play sand volleyball.
What started as a casual escape from the challenges of school has developed into a weekly tradition.
The IBS program encourages first-year students to bond as they navigate intense coursework before branching into specialized fields. As students like Lages diverged into specific basic science departments and labs, volleyball became a way to stay connected. Beyond its recreational appeal, the game has sharpened their communication skills, adaptability, and understanding of what it takes to build a successful team—both on the court and in their research.
Today, the team is thriving, with strong volleyball skills and even stronger relationships. “I’ve always loved group sports,” Lages said. “Playing with my classmates brings us closer together.”
Initially, her team began with informal weekend games, but their enthusiasm evolved into a regular Wednesday night league. Today, nearly a dozen trainees from the UK College of Medicine biomedical program join in the fun at Marikka’s.
For Lages, these weekly games provide a vital balance. It’s a set time to relax, exercise, and connect socially. “I believe it makes the mind and body function better,” she said. “It helps me prepare for the upcoming challenges.”
Teammate Joshua Moses, a graduate student in physiology, finds the games cathartic. A former high school athlete, volleyball lets him rekindle his competitive spirit. And on a day with a rough exam or a strenuous learning assignment, after volleyball, “we’re laughing and pretending like it never happened because you start to realize it’s temporary,” Moses said.
Both Lages and Moses believe in the power of recreational sports for learners navigating demanding environments. Whether it’s volleyball or another team activity, “it’s worth trying,” Moses said.