Ehman’s B1G Volleyball Thursday: Northwestern’s Temi Thomas-Ailara

Editor’s note: Our countdown to the start of the fall 2021 NCAA Division I volleyball season continues with this weekly look at the Big Ten, 14 programs in 14 Thursdays. 

Northwestern junior Temi Thomas-Ailara, a 6-foot-2 outside from the Chicago suburb of Glenwood, has dominated the court since the first time she walked into Welsh Ryan Arena.

The 2021 first-team All-Big Ten honoree talks about her rise to dominance, favorite memories with Northwestern coach Shane Davis, how growing up with two Nigerian parents influenced her, her TikTok game, and how a sushi eating contest with one of her teammates ended up.

Previously on B1G Volleyball Thursday, we interviewed Ohio State’s Emily Londot, Purdue’s Taylor Trammell, Wisconsin’s Dana Rettke. and Penn State’s Gabby Blossom.

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VolleyballMag.com contributor Emily Ehman is a former Northwestern libero, lived in the bubble in Dallas and covered the inaugural Athletes Unlimited volleyball this spring, and does analysis on Big Ten volleyball broadcasts. Follow her on Twitter @emilyehman and Instagram @emilyehman