Former Eagle earns national collegiate honors in volleyball

Press Sports Editor
sports@presspublications.com

The accolades are seemingly endless.
Clay alum Olivia Henneman-Dallape led Ferris State, ranked first in Division II, to the national quarterfinals before they fell, 3-2, to Bentley (MA) University.
It was the only loss for the Bulldogs, who went 34-1 and won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic League with a 17-0 record.
The biggest win of the season came in the Midwest Regional finals against Findlay, where the Bulldogs rallied to defeat the Oilers, 3-2.
Ferris State took the first set, 27-25, but lost the next two (25-22, 25-19) before rallying to take the final two sets by scores of 25-21 and 15-13. Henneman-Dallape had a team-high 22 kills and earned all-tournament honors.
To give someone an idea of just how dominant FSU was, the team lost just 16 sets during the whole season. For her efforts, Henneman-Dallape was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year. She also earned first-team honors, one year after being named to the second team.
Henneman-Dallape was also the GLIAC Tournament MVP.
She finished the season with 502 kills, 161 digs and 81 blocks. In 28 of the team’s 35 matches, she had at least 10 kills.
The coach, Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, was named the National Coach of the Year, and Kaylee Maat and Claire Nowicki earned national honors.
“This season was one of a kind. The team that we had at Ferris was very dedicated on making everyone in the gym better and taking it one day at a time,” said Henneman-Dallape. “The chemistry that we built together helped us to be so successful. We were able to travel and do many team-bonding (activities) to help with that.
Henneman-Dallape, who is an outside hitter, is quick to credit her teammates.
“I was part of a graduating class of eight seniors, which included every position that was needed. Kaylee (Maat), our setter really brought a competitive leadership every day, Chelsie (Freeman) was one our (middle hitters), and she brought heat and a strategic plan,” said Henneman-Dallape. “Syann (Fairfield) was another middle that brought strategic play and was a very versatile player. Leah (Bylut) is the libero everyone wants to have; she just had so much love for the sport and is just a go-getter. Hanny (Tecumseh) is the game changer, Tatum (Outlaw) is the one who keeps things fun and not too serious and just loves the game. Claire (Nowicki) was our backbone – she did a lot for our team. She is a snappy, athletic volleyball player.
“It’s been the coolest experience of my life. I never go a day without laughing and just having something to be grateful for,” she said.
Henneman-Dallape, who stands 6-2, is a nursing major.
“It’s very difficult, but if time is managed right, it makes it very, very possible (to succeed),” she said. “Being a student-athlete is not all that I get to experience. There are way more stress and cramming, but in the end, that’s also the fun of it.”
Not bad for a student who earned All-Academic honors in the GLIAC as a junior.
“College has been extremely fulfilling. I am just beyond grateful and appreciative to be a part of such an amazing program and culture, and to be able to work for one of the highest-competitive teams in Division II. Not only that, I've made relationships with people. These girls are going to be in my life forever, and I wouldn't change my experience at Ferris State for anything,” said Henneman-Dallape. “I was also extremely grateful to join a program that allowed me to do nursing school and be a student-athlete, which is actually very rare; I just can’t say enough about how grateful and appreciative I am, and how I will always these memories at Ferris for the rest of my life.”
In high school, Henneman-Dallape played for Carrie Wagoner. She earned all-district honors in volleyball and was an All-TRAC selection in basketball, too.
Fellow Clay alum Shannon Coughlin, who is now coaching at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, talked about what kind of teammate Henneman-Dallape was in high school.
“Olivia was a sophomore when I was a senior, so I didn’t play with her very long, but I just remember her being a really raw volleyball player. Her ceiling was so high because she was just getting into the game in high school. I remember Coach Conley seeing a lot of potential in her,” said Coughlin. “I remember specifically her getting a lot of extra hitting reps during practices. I didn't keep up with her college career much as I was in mine and was overseas, but it was so awesome to see that she was Division II Player of the Year, because I can imagine how much growth, learning, and hard work was put into it. I played basketball with her as well, she's an awesome person and a good teammate – (she) always wanted the best for everyone and just a sweet person all around.”
Ferris State is a public university located in Big Rapids, Michigan, which is 57 miles north of Grand Rapids. (There is a branch campus in Grand Rapids.) The school is home to more than 10,000 students.