After a game, win or lose, Milan Stokes’ mind always come back to one thing: her faith.
Stokes’ faith isn’t something she hides, in fact she brings it up most of the time. It’s a huge part of her life, and it definitely shows. Stokes said she was saved two years ago by Christ, and her communication with God is how it truly stays embedded within her.
No matter what, she makes prayer a priority in her life.
“Seeing the changes that have been made in my life just by making that decision alone has been really enough motivation to think I should stick with this, because it’s working,” Stokes said. “Not only that, I think the peace that He gives me that I can't find anywhere else is irreplaceable. I would rely on that 10 times out of 10 rather than trying to go to something I know doesn't work as well.”
Stokes is a junior outside hitter from Long Beach, CA, but she says it was the coaching staff that brought her to LSU.
“When I spoke to them in the recruiting process, it was different,” Stokes said. “They asked me about my writing and what I was into and what I wanted to be. That mattered to me just as much as the volleyball did.”
Stokes has been a cornerstone of the LSU volleyball team since her freshman year. She produced 44 kills her freshman year, 65 her sophomore year and continues to climb as she already has 82 total kills this season. She has a career high of 12 against Florida and a hitting percentage of .346.
This decision to dedicate herself to her faith has affected all areas of Stokes’ life, as it does for many people. Faith is defined as complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Ironically, this is exactly how Stokes said her faith shaped her as a volleyball player.
“The fact that He has given me everything that I need in this moment where I don’t need to want anything else or feel like I’m lacking,” Stokes explained. “That gives me confidence to be able to accept any challenge because if I have everything, if He’s given me this and He has this plan for me then I can go for it without being worried at all.”
Stokes also referred to Psalm 149:14 — "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well" — when talking about facing her opponents.
She has made this a part of her goals looking at games. She hangs onto this concept and focuses on it in order to really attack her opponents.
Stokes’ faith as shaped her as a person and a player. It really opened her eyes to the world around her. She says she’s more knowledgeable of opportunities of service on and off the court. She’s also more aware of God’s presence and how He presents it.
“I don’t feel as narrow-minded as I used to be,” Stokes persisted. “[It’s things like] coming up to a teammate saying, ’Hey I see you're having trouble. Let me talk to you about it.’ Not only that, but looking for the secret messages because I believe that God speaks through people, listening to those things and catching those little breadcrumbs that He leaves. That's probably my favorite part about it.”
A huge part of the Christian faith is sharing it. Stokes is a light for the LSU volleyball team that shines bright with the love of Christ. It’s something that reflects off of her from the inside out. She says God sent her to LSU because without it, she wouldn’t have been saved at all.
“God changed my life,” Stokes beamed. “I don't think I would have grown as much as a person or learned as much about the world, the people and all of these beautiful southern traditions. It's just exciting, and I hope [the people reading this] fall in love with this place as well and that they find this peace that I have."
*Pictures are not my own, but from LSU Daily Reveille
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