“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
-Joshua 1:9
Texas middle blocker Molly Phillips has had an instant impact on the Texas Longhorns volleyball team since arriving in Austin. One of the top recruits in her class, Phillips would appear in all 27 matches of her rookie year. As her impact has continued throughout her 3 years with the Longhorns, she has garnered a following for her passion and drive both on and off the court. For Phillips, she says she is driven by faith every time that she takes the court.
A native of Mansfield, Texas, faith was always a part of Molly’s life growing up. She says her parents always made sure it was a priority for her and her family.
A star in high school, Phillips resume included awards such as being named to the 2018 PrepVolleyball All-America First Team, the PrepVolleyball top-50 Juniors list, and being selected to the USA U20 Women’s National Team in 2018. As Phillips has grown on the court, she says her faith has also developed throughout her time in Texas, too.
“As I have gotten older, my faith has only grown as I have been challenged in ways that have pushed me closer to God. College is full of learning experiences and testing your faith is at the top of that list. I’m so thankful for the church community that I have developed and the friends that have been placed in my life who push me to become a better Christian everyday.”
Phillips has helped Texas to incredible years throughout her time there, and individually Phillips has seen herself earn awards including being 2nd Team All-Big 12 in 2020. She says that every time she takes the court, she hopes to make an impact.
“Throughout my volleyball career there have been plenty of ups and downs and having a firm foundation rooted through faith is the only reason I am able to navigate the moments of victory and moments of defeat. My faith also gives me a bigger reason to play. I know that every time I step out on the court I am working to not only glorify him, but inspire others to do the same.”
Phillips says that growing up and having to miss church on Sundays because of sports drove her to form her own relationship with Jesus.
“Missing church and bible studies forced me to take growing my faith into my own hands. When I decided to put my personal faith first and realized that no one was going to make it a priority for myself except for me, I truly began to experience the goodness of God.”
“I think many times we forget to give him the glory when we are in the spotlight, but in reality we wouldn’t be there without him. His faithfulness is rich and doesn’t take days off and neither should ours.”
Phillips says that God’s blessings on her life continue to make her smile every day.
“There is so much comfort in knowing how amazing our God is. This feeling keeps me going and pushes me to dive deeper into my faith while hopefully inspiring others to do the same.”
As Phillips and the Longhorns gear up for the next season, they are prepping for another strong run towards a chance at a national championship. With a roster boosted by transfers and a top recruiting class headlined by names such as Emma Halter, Marianna Singletary, and Devin Kahahawai, Phillips anticipates another chance to play the game she loves. Entering her senior year, she says her goals remain the same. Use her gifts to glorify God, and inspire others to do the same.
