QUICK FACTS

Name: Belinda Behncke-Biney Nickname: B or Bella Born: February 24, 1988 in Hamburg, Germany Parents: Samuel-Kwesi and Harriet Biney Hometown: Hamburg, Germany High School: Gymnasium Marienthal Major: Business Administration Favorite Food: Fried Plantain Favorite Restaurant: Bahama Breeze Favorite Ice Cream: Vanilla

Question: What is your favorite professional sports team?
Belinda Behncke-Biney: “I would have to say the Chelsea Football Club, which is the soccer team from the United Kingdom.”

Q: Who is your favorite professional athlete?
BBB: “My favorite athlete would be Rosir Calderon. She plays for the Cuban National Volleyball Team.”

Q: In three words, how would you describe yourself?
BBB: “In three words, I would describe myself as sarcastic, determined and caring.”

Q: What is your biggest fear?
BBB: “My biggest fear would be death.”

Q: What are your pregame rituals?
BBB: “Before a game, I like to listen to music. I am usually listening to ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ by Marvin Gaye. That song really gets me going and prepares me for the match.”

Q: What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment?
BBB: “My greatest accomplishment would be moving to the United States and starting a new life in America, while having to leave my family behind in Germany.”

Q: How did you start out playing volleyball?
BBB: “I started playing volleyball in high school through one of my good friends. She use to be on the volleyball team and she would drag me to practice with her. There was also a volleyball cartoon called ‘Mila Superstar’ that I use to watch all the time when I was younger and it was about a girl that was a very good volleyball player and it would showcase her playing volleyball.”

Q: Why did you choose NCCU?
BBB: “I chose NCCU because I have family nearby and because of Coach Crawford-Crooks. She gives a lot of good support and I felt she could help me a lot.”

Q: What is your current major and career plans after graduation?
BBB: “Right now, I am in graduate school, working on getting my master’s degree in business administration. In the future, I would like to purse a PhD and own my own corporation. I would like for my corporation to be something involving childcare.”

Q: Who would you consider a role model and why?
BBB: “My mother would be my role model because she is determined, always has a positive attitude, is encouraging and she is always there to listen when I need her.”

Q: What is something interesting about you that others may not know?
BBB: “I graduated from high school in Hamburg, Germany as the only black female in my class. I graduated in 2007. I also do not like chocolate.”

Q: What is going through your mind before you step foot on the court before a game?
BBB: “I like to set personal goals for myself and I always have the mindset to win the game. My focus is on winning the match that is ahead of me.”

Q: Where do you see yourself within the next five years?
BBB: “In the next five years, I see myself happily married with children and having a successful career.

Q: How many languages do you speak and what are they?
BBB: “I speak four languages and they are German, English, French and Ga, which is the native language spoken in Ghana.”

Q: Who is your favorite musical artist?
BBB: “My favorite artist would have to be India Arie.”

Q: If you could play another sport, what would it be and why?
BBB: “If I wasn’t playing volleyball, I would be a swimmer because I want to swim in the Atlantic Ocean and I would love to swim with dolphins.”

Q: How did you develop such a strong service and attack game?
BBB: “Both of them come from a lot of practice. I work on my game all the time when I am in the gym and so plenty of practice adds to my strong service game. Aggression from the game can also add to my strong hitting and service game.”

Q: How does it feel to be a part of NCCU volleyball history?
BBB: “Being a part of NCCU history and standing among the top-10 in several categories is an achievement that feels really good. It shows that my hard work really pays off. It gives me a chance to look back later and show my children what I did here. It’s also good to look and see my name alongside other NCCU athletes who have been before me and my name right beside them.”

Q: How difficult was it for you to choose between Ghana or Germany citizenship after having dual citizenship for so many years?
BBB: “Germany passed a law stating that you could only be a citizen of one country. It was a pretty easy decision for me because I was born in Germany and spent my entire life there. As an ally of the United States, you have a lot more freedom with German citizenship. It is easier to travel to America as a German citizen due to governmental policies.”