My Volleyball Story: Janae Vander Ploeg

Each Wednesday throughout the summer, Montana volleyball student-athletes and coaches will tell their volleyball stories. Read, in their own words, what the sport means to them and where their passion and drive comes from.

My Volleyball Story: Janae Vander Ploeg

I have been thinking a lot about my volleyball journey lately. I remember my first time playing in gym class and making my first overhand serve over. I then remember making my mom come to the gym after school to watch me serve. This sport has had my heart since that day, and I am so grateful for the journey volleyball has led me on.

Janae Vander Ploeg_younger

One of my first coaches recently passed away from cancer, and it really brought back some memories and the impact he made on my life. His name was Rey, and he coached me when I was 14. Rey lived passionately and one of his passions was volleyball. He loved this sport and gave everything he had to it. His practices were challenging and he had high expectations of each individual, but he saw the potential in everyone and he full heartedly believed in each player he coached. This was the turning point in volleyball for me.

I enjoyed playing and I loved being with my friends, but Rey made me love the grind. I was so hungry to learn as much as I could and I loved practicing. He made me love the process, the feedback, and the highs and lows that come from playing. He showed me this world of volleyball that I had never seen before, and it changed my life.

Janae Vander Ploeg_younger

For so long I thought my identity was just a volleyball player and that scared me when that part of life was over. I feared that I would have nothing to define who I was, but during that process, I found out that volleyball has made me the person I am today. It has made me determined, motivated, physically and mentally strong, probably a little too competitive, and happy. These qualities started coming out of me when I was playing the sport and it has stayed with me since.

Volleyball has taught me so many life lessons that go past the court. It has taught me that I am capable of getting through anything and I can do it with grace.

Janae Vander Ploeg_younger

It has also opened some pretty amazing doors and it has led me to a life I never dreamed of having. I played in college, played professionally in Sweden and France, and won the Swedish championship. I then became a high school coach, a club coach and started coaching at Montana.

The best part about this journey is that after each step, I thought I was ready to be done. I thought I had fulfilled my love for the game and I was ready for the next part of my life to start. But, I kept coming back, and the passion kept growing more.

I didn't think it would be possible, but I love the game as a coach even more than when I was playing. There is something so powerful in working with these young women and showing them this volleyball world that was opened up to me when I was younger, and that this part of us is so much more than being a volleyball player.
Janae Vander Ploeg coaching

University of Montana Athletics

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