Concordia seemed to fit for Anna, being close to home and a smaller school, with an enrollment around 3,000 students. She initially had plans to study pharmacy, but after working for Monsanto in Owatonna the last couple of summers, she is considering a change to something in agriculture, though still with her biology major.
The workload in college is tremendous, according to Anna.
“Some nights can get late with the homework and volleyball combination,” she said. “But the professors are very understanding when we leave early for a long trip.”
It wasn’t always an easy transition on the volleyball court either. Anna red-shirted her freshman year and, “She had to adjust to different philosophy, different players, and (a) different style of playing,” according to Jill. She played a little more the next year and finally entered the starting lineup her junior year, after making adjustments to her game.
In talking to Anna’s coach, he assessed her progress this way: “Anna has progressed from being a very strong hitter coming out of high school to a great six rotation outside hitter that is just as strong in the back row as she is in the front row. She carries a heavy load of having to be one of our primary passers and help control our back court as well as be one of our go-to hitters in the front row. Anna has also worked her way into a leadership role for our team and someone that our team relies on to keep our team relaxed and having fun on the court.”
Starky said that Anna was quiet when she arrived at Concordia, but has really moved to that leadership role. The Golden Bears are excited to have her two more years, and Coach Starky said that after the dominant spring she’s had, he’s looking ahead to big things in her game this fall.
That year-round schedule truly applies to volleyball now. Practices start in mid-August, and the NCAA tournament doesn’t begin until the end of November. Last year was a tough year for the Golden Bears, as they saw their National Championship streak come to an end. Anna claims that has lit a fire in the team, and they are motivated to begin a new streak this season. After Christmas, the team has some workouts, following NCAA regulations, and then plays spring ball Monday-Friday. Summer brings some individual workouts and Sunday team activities.
The team spends a lot of time together outside of volleyball activities, and Anna said she’s also been able to stay in touch with many of her friends from high school, another advantage to living less than two hours away from home. In addition to the team’s goal to reclaim a national title, Anna said an individual goal is to grow more intelligent with her skills and to continue to grow into the person she aspires to be off the court.
College sports are not for everyone, but Anna seems to have made that jump well. Her commitment to volleyball over the years has paid off, and the NRHEG area can be proud of the young lady who represents our communities so well at such a respected college. Best of luck to Anna and her teammates this fall in their quest for another national title!