Basketball players sometimes take their talents to Europe to pursue a step toward playing in the National Basketball Association, but volleyball players have almost no other options other than playing overseas if they wish to continue competing.
It is not easy for players to break the international gap and it is very tough for setters and liberos, because there are very little open spots.
However, outside hitters and middle blockers have shown they’re able to take their talents overseas, including former Ohio outside hitter Katie Post, who last played for the Bobcats in 2011.
“(A team) is typically only allowed a certain number of players from overseas, so the spots are limited (for Americans),” coach Ryan Theis said. “I’d say 50 percent of attackers have the chance to play professional volleyball, but only about 25 percent want to.”
Post is one of four Ohio players that has signed a contract to compete internationally since 2010. She began playing for Brøndby Volleyball Klub in Denmark and now plays for Eurosped in the Netherlands, as her contract insures her a spot on the club until May.
“Most players think their athletic careers are over once they graduate from college,” Post said. “Unless you are very good not many players can make a living out of playing professional.”
From 2010-2012, Ellen Herman, Meghan Simons, Sue Jacobi, Michelle Jantsch and Katie Post each went on to play professionally after leaving Ohio.
“I had previous teammates play overseas as well, so I wanted to follow in their footsteps, plus I wasn't ready to stop playing yet,” Post said. “Not too many people get this kind of opportunity so I had to at least give it a try.”
But because there is limited talk about competing professionally in the United States, Post did not make the decision to play professionally until her senior year.
“Growing up I honestly never thought about playing professional volleyball,” Post said. “I didn’t know that playing professionally overseas was even an option until my sophomore or junior year.”
Although she did not want to disclose the official terms of her contract, Post said that some European leagues pay athletes enough to make a modest living, but she also coaches to make money on the side.
Although no members of last year’s Ohio team went on to play internationally, Theis said that junior outside hitter Chelsea Bilger and redshirt junior Liis Kullerkann will likely go on to play professionally. Bilger said she likes the overseas lifestyle, while Kullerkann competed with the Estonian National Team this summer.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily all the best players (that play professionally), but it’s the ones who love the game and don’t want to give it up after college,” sophomore setter Abby Gilleland said. “It all depends on the person, too. Anyone with a lot of passion and heart for the game can make it work.”
But because the number of international teams is limited, most athletes eventually remain in volleyball by becoming a coach.
“We’ll have everything from Kelly Lamberti, who wants to be a high school math teacher and high school coach, to Brooke Coleman who wants to be a (full-time) coach,” Theis said. “If you want to stay in volleyball and like that lifestyle coaching is the way to go. Some kids go play pro and then come back and coach.”
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@Alex_Busch91
This article appeared in print under the headline "Volley Overseas."
