The University of Mississippi Athletics
Clair Brings All-American Flavor to Sweden
11/28/2016 | Volleyball
Clair Brings All-American Flavor to Sweden
Ole Miss Record-Holder Begins Professional Volleyball Career
By Jackie Servais, Ole Miss Athletics Communications
Much of Nakeyta Clair's new life as a professional volleyball player in Sweden is about assimilation—into a new culture and a new style of play. But the Ole Miss volleyball alumnus will always take some of Oxford, and some of America, wherever she goes.
Sometimes that means her tenacity on the court, but this November, it's something different. It's turkey and dressing.
"I cook almost every day here and a couple girls on my team came to me and said they wanted me to show them how we celebrate Thanksgiving back home," Clair said. "I told them, no problem, but just make sure y'all bring money because I am charging 15 dollars a plate."
While Clair left behind many things when she embarked on her new journey across the Atlantic Ocean, she did not leave her sense of humor.
As one could imagine, picking up your life and moving more than 4,000 miles from home does not come without its challenges. Clair grew up in a small town outside of Chicago that was home to no more than 20,000 people. Then she spent her collegiate career in the quaint town of Oxford, where she held down the middle position on the court for the Rebels.
Clair became the second All-American in the history of the program and was a two-time AVCA All-Region and All-SEC selection. She holds the career and single-season records for total blocks, block assists and block solos. Clair also ranks second all-time in kills.
A stellar career in the small town of Oxford brought Clair to a major life change. She signed a pro contract with Hylte/Halmstad Club in Halmstad, Sweden, the 20th largest city in the country.
"The people are very different. The Swedish culture is simple--everyone follows the rules, everybody dresses the same, looks the same, and does almost all the same things," said Clair.
So when in Sweden, Clair does as the Swedish do. Even when that means hanging up her car keys, bundling up for cold weather and riding a bike everywhere she goes.
"I can't believe I own a bike. The transportation has really been the only thing that kills me," Clair said. "They really don't drive much here because the gas prices are outrageous, so the city is built for bikes with many things close to one another. It gets cold here, so I end up wearing four coats just to get to my next destination, but good thing where I practice is about a 10-minute bike ride.
The transportation is not the only adjustment Clair has had to make. The style of play is dramatically different in Sweden, so many of her old habits have to be overhauled.
"I am working on learning the ways the system works and becoming comfortable with it," Clair said. "Our game plan is usually always block line, the outside hitters block the middle position, and there are always two blockers on the pin hitters. So the main thing different for me is not blocking the middle."
Clair's team is made up of 13 athletes, with only three of them being from America. The team ranges from women aged 19-29, some of whom have college degrees, and runs a vastly different offensive system on an unfamiliar schedule.
The team practices every day from 4-8 p.m., including video and weight training, but the games are only once a week.
"We will either play Saturday or Sunday. If we play on Saturday, we get Thursday and Sunday to rest, but if we play on Sunday we only get the following Thursday to rest," Clair said. "We will only get one week off for Christmas, because right after New Year's the top four teams in Sweden have a grand slam tournament, where we will play each other to determine where we are placed in the playoffs."
Clair plans to return to Chicago for the holidays to spend time with her loved ones before her contract runs up in April. She then will look to continue her travels around the globe in a new location with a new level of play.
