George Mason University freshman Nia Thompson is making her mark on the women’s volleyball team, following in the footsteps of her mother, Amy Boone Thompson. The announcement was made on April 14.
Thompson’s story highlights the continuation of a family tradition at George Mason, as she joins the same program where her mother played both volleyball and basketball in the 1990s. Her mother was a member of the university’s 1994 Colonial Athletic Association Championship women’s volleyball team.
Amy Boone Thompson said she did not want to influence her daughter’s college decision and wanted Nia to create her own experience. “She really wants to make her own story, and I’m being respectful of that,” Amy said. “I want it to be her experience and let it unfold for her.”
Nia described feeling welcomed by coaches and players during recruitment. “I felt really supported by the coaches and players here,” she said. “They really wanted me, and it felt nice.” Originally focused on tennis while growing up, Nia switched to volleyball after moving from Colorado to California at age 13, quickly developing a passion for the sport.
During her freshman season at George Mason, Nia helped lead the team to its first Atlantic-10 Championship Tournament appearance since 2018 and earned a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie Team. Her mother expressed optimism about the future: “With the freshman team we have this year, I think all of us are just so optimistic,” Amy said. “If they can stick together and keep building on what they have, we’re going to keep getting better and better.”
As she begins her collegiate career wearing Mason colors like her mother before her, Nia emphasized teamwork as key to their success: “It’s a really good group of girls,” said Nia. “It just all came together.”
