Chance of a Lifetime
September 22, 2011 11:26 AM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. - Traveling abroad is a great opportunity for any college student. Traveling abroad for the chance to play the sport you love was the greatest opportunity for West Virginia University junior outside hitter Anke de Jong.
Growing up in Groningen, Netherlands, de Jong was surrounded by volleyball at a very young age. De Jong’s parents, Volko and Jannie, played volleyball at the highest level in the Netherlands with her father participating on the Dutch National team. Yet even with this volleyball background, she did not always see herself playing volleyball.
“I started playing volleyball later than most girls because I was competing in horse riding and judo,” de Jong said. “Of course my parents wanted me to try and play volleyball and I went to a lot of games. I was 11 or 12 when I started to play and I was tall so everyone said ‘oh you can play volleyball well if you practice a lot.’ I practiced a lot and now I am here today.”
With no volleyball teams at the high school or college levels, de Jong started competing in one of the highest leagues in the Netherlands, the B-league. After 10 years of competition, she began to search for a new way to broaden her volleyball experience by exploring the option of coming to the United States. She didn’t have to look far for advice.
“My dad lived in Bellingham, Washington for a year when he was younger,” de Jong said. “He said ‘You have to do it. It is such an experience.’ We went to Washington on holiday and I loved America. I was curious to learn more. My dad also went and he told me if you get the chance you have to do it. He said it was a big opportunity that not everyone gets.”
Having the encouragement of her father, de Jong sought the advice of one of her old volleyball trainers on how to continue her volleyball dream. Her trainer put her in touch with a friend and coach in America named Johan who quickly introduced her to WVU coach Jill Kramer. After one visit to Morgantown with her father, de Jong knew she chose the right place.
“Everyone is more involved in volleyball here and I feel like I am on a professional level,” de Jong said. “Everyone pays more attention to everything. We even have to wear the same clothes when we practice and travel and everything has to be perfect. We strive to be perfect. At home, we just played and the games were more for fun. Of course you wanted to win and be the best, but it is different here.”
Arriving 48 hours before the team’s first practice was a bit overwhelming for the Dutchwoman as she was quickly thrown into the world of Division I volleyball.
“I underestimated it a little when I came here,” de Jong said. “I did not practice for a month and my conditioning was not very good. I struggled with the time difference and when I came here, I had to practice immediately and I didn’t have that much time to arrange anything. I was overwhelmed in the beginning. I also did not think I would miss my family and I thought I would be okay, but in the beginning I missed them a lot.”
Although the adjustment was hard at first, de Jong was able to lean on her teammates and roommates Abby Monson, Michelle Kopecky and Liz Gulick.
“Everyone was trying to help me always,” said de Jong. “The teammates in my house and especially Kylie (Armbruster) and Serinna (Russo) are always there for me. They know that I am here alone in a different country. They are really supportive and they take me everywhere.”
De Jong showed promise by starting for the Mountaineers in their first match of the season against New Hampshire, but struggled offensively by not recording a kill. The Netherlands native regrouped and began to find a rhythm by leading the team with eight kills against Ohio State the very next night.
“In the beginning, I was so emotional because I really wanted to show that I am good,” de Jong said. “I learned that I have to be patient and adapt to the situation and get comfortable because all of this is new. In the beginning, I just wanted to show what I could do and you cannot show what you can do in a short time. I put too much pressure on myself and I was only getting worse. I really have to learn to try and relax and have confidence in myself.”
Now that preseason is over, de Jong looks forward to meeting the BIG EAST competition for the first time and having the Mountaineers build on the foundation of the team’s preseason matches.
“I have no idea how good or bad the teams are because I come in not knowing any of the teams. A lot of the girls know the teams because they played at the same club or are from the same town,” de Jong said. “I think in practice we have been working a lot with the outside hitters because we have to get a lot more kills. Our defense is pretty good but I think we have to be more consistent in conference. If we do that, we can definitely make it to the BIG EAST tournament.”
Growing up in Groningen, Netherlands, de Jong was surrounded by volleyball at a very young age. De Jong’s parents, Volko and Jannie, played volleyball at the highest level in the Netherlands with her father participating on the Dutch National team. Yet even with this volleyball background, she did not always see herself playing volleyball.
“I started playing volleyball later than most girls because I was competing in horse riding and judo,” de Jong said. “Of course my parents wanted me to try and play volleyball and I went to a lot of games. I was 11 or 12 when I started to play and I was tall so everyone said ‘oh you can play volleyball well if you practice a lot.’ I practiced a lot and now I am here today.”
With no volleyball teams at the high school or college levels, de Jong started competing in one of the highest leagues in the Netherlands, the B-league. After 10 years of competition, she began to search for a new way to broaden her volleyball experience by exploring the option of coming to the United States. She didn’t have to look far for advice.
“My dad lived in Bellingham, Washington for a year when he was younger,” de Jong said. “He said ‘You have to do it. It is such an experience.’ We went to Washington on holiday and I loved America. I was curious to learn more. My dad also went and he told me if you get the chance you have to do it. He said it was a big opportunity that not everyone gets.”
Having the encouragement of her father, de Jong sought the advice of one of her old volleyball trainers on how to continue her volleyball dream. Her trainer put her in touch with a friend and coach in America named Johan who quickly introduced her to WVU coach Jill Kramer. After one visit to Morgantown with her father, de Jong knew she chose the right place.
“Everyone is more involved in volleyball here and I feel like I am on a professional level,” de Jong said. “Everyone pays more attention to everything. We even have to wear the same clothes when we practice and travel and everything has to be perfect. We strive to be perfect. At home, we just played and the games were more for fun. Of course you wanted to win and be the best, but it is different here.”
Arriving 48 hours before the team’s first practice was a bit overwhelming for the Dutchwoman as she was quickly thrown into the world of Division I volleyball.
“I underestimated it a little when I came here,” de Jong said. “I did not practice for a month and my conditioning was not very good. I struggled with the time difference and when I came here, I had to practice immediately and I didn’t have that much time to arrange anything. I was overwhelmed in the beginning. I also did not think I would miss my family and I thought I would be okay, but in the beginning I missed them a lot.”
Although the adjustment was hard at first, de Jong was able to lean on her teammates and roommates Abby Monson, Michelle Kopecky and Liz Gulick.
“Everyone was trying to help me always,” said de Jong. “The teammates in my house and especially Kylie (Armbruster) and Serinna (Russo) are always there for me. They know that I am here alone in a different country. They are really supportive and they take me everywhere.”
De Jong showed promise by starting for the Mountaineers in their first match of the season against New Hampshire, but struggled offensively by not recording a kill. The Netherlands native regrouped and began to find a rhythm by leading the team with eight kills against Ohio State the very next night.
“In the beginning, I was so emotional because I really wanted to show that I am good,” de Jong said. “I learned that I have to be patient and adapt to the situation and get comfortable because all of this is new. In the beginning, I just wanted to show what I could do and you cannot show what you can do in a short time. I put too much pressure on myself and I was only getting worse. I really have to learn to try and relax and have confidence in myself.”
Now that preseason is over, de Jong looks forward to meeting the BIG EAST competition for the first time and having the Mountaineers build on the foundation of the team’s preseason matches.
“I have no idea how good or bad the teams are because I come in not knowing any of the teams. A lot of the girls know the teams because they played at the same club or are from the same town,” de Jong said. “I think in practice we have been working a lot with the outside hitters because we have to get a lot more kills. Our defense is pretty good but I think we have to be more consistent in conference. If we do that, we can definitely make it to the BIG EAST tournament.”
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