Hickinbotham, who has maintained a 3.189 GPA, is a senior psychology major and exercise studies minor from Mansfield, Ohio. She is the only senior on the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's volleyball team and was married in August 2007. She says although her lifestyle requires lots of energy, patience and flexibility, it is “the best of both worlds.”

Growing up with two older sisters who played sports, Hickinbotham naturally became involved in athletics from a young age, first in softball, then basketball and lastly, volleyball at age 11. She credits the hours spent with her younger sister in the driveway having “volleyball practice” as a major factor in her success. “We’d even make each other run laps around the driveway for shanking balls and things like that!” Hickinbotham said.

She first joined her school volleyball team in seventh grade, but attended many camps and clinics in her childhood. She continued to play softball, basketball and volleyball throughout high school at Mansfield Christian.

Her freshman year, Hickinbotham attended Asbury (Ky.) College where she played volleyball. However, she transferred to MVNU as a sophomore to be closer to home and to continue her athletic career. She was also considering a major in pre-physical therapy, which MVNU offered, but Asbury College did not.

Hickinbotham is a two-year starter at outside hitter for the Lady Cougars. Last year, she was an American Mideast Conference South Division Honorable Mention pick and helped the Lady Cougars earn their first-ever trip to the NAIA National Tournament. The team completed the season with a record of 39-5. So far this year, she has registered 130 kills, 22 aces, 219 digs, and 17 blocks, with a serving percentage of .945.

“[Hickinbotham] is our only senior so she is very important in terms of leadership. She contributes on and off the court. She is a very valuable person,” head coach Paul Swanson said.

According Swanson, Hickinbotham’s success has been a yearly progression. “She got an opportunity to start in the front row as a junior and we had a phenomenal season,” he said. “This year, one of her goals was to play all the way around. She is doing that and doing a good job. So far, we are having a great season.”

Her role on the team is one Hickinbotham describes as a leader and caretaker who can give someone a hug or a pat on the back whenever she needs it. “Ever since my sophomore year, I have been deemed the ‘Mother Hen’ of the team!” Hickinbotham said. “Personally, I am trying to be an example of a Christian student-athlete leader, just by living my life and trying to glorify the Lord in all that I do.”

“Audrey is always so caring and so ready to jump in and do anything she can to help us, no matter what it is. It's been great to have her on the team!” sophomore middle hitter Jackie Albrecht said.

The song “Every Moment” by Joy Williams has become Hickinbotham’s theme as she tries to make the most of her last season. She hopes that her senior year will be the “ultimate climax of my college career, on and off the court”. She said the 2007 team was privileged and awed to make it to the National Tournament for the first time in the program’s history, but she would love to make a return trip now that they are more experienced.

Giving up volleyball was never an option for Hickinbotham when she married slightly over a year ago. She knew she would regret quitting and is grateful for her husband’s support when she cannot be around as much as he might like. Her husband, Kyle works for Lifeline of Ohio as a “Tissue Coordinator,” traveling all over Ohio and West Virginia to recover tissue from organ and tissue donors.

Hickinbotham’s future plans are to find a job in the Columbus area after graduation. She is relieved to be graduating after four years, despite changing her major four times. Her experience being one of seven children, ranging in age from 27 to 8, should help Hickinbotham toward her career goal, which is working with children.

“As long as I can be working hands on with kids and families making their lives better in some way or another, I’ll be happy!” she said.