Stacy Rouwenhorst has seen many changes in volleyball since she began playing as a 13-year-old. Her transition into the professional volleyball world has seen rule shifts alter rally scoring the let serve the libero position and court size.
But no matter what changes time has wrought on the game of volleyball Rouwenhorst knows one thing never changes: she was meant to play.
Rouwenhorst left Pepperdine with an impressive legacy. She ranked in the top five players in both kills and hitting percentage was a four-year member of the all-West Coast Conference team was the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year in 1999 and was twice selected All-Pacific Region. Volleyball has for the most part been her life.
“I don’t really know life without it she said in an e-mailed interview. It is what I have always done. “
Despite her long-standing history with the sport moving on from the Pepperdine court and assimilating into the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour has not been without its hardships.
“Starting off was very difficult both financially and emotionally. I was used to winning all the time said Rouwenhorst. At Pepperdine we…did very well. So being at the very bottom wasn’t very fun. “
Despite a challenging start to her professional career Rouwenhorst’s stint at the bottom of the pile of top-notch AVP athletes was short-lived. Rouwenhorst and long-time teammate and playing partner Jen Fopman finished their rookie season with four top 10 finishes in their last four tournaments.
Last year Rouwenhorst celebrated her highest professional achievement a fifth-place finish in the Boulder Colo. pro tour stop. And of course there was that time she played against Olympian powerhouse duo Misty May and Kerri Walsh.
“Because we were the lowest seed we had to play Misty and Kerri the very first match said Rouwenhorst. I remember my family taking pictures of the scoreboard and being so excited. I guess they didn’t think I would be in many more tournaments.”
But Rouwenhorst’s family had no reason to doubt the longevity of her career.
Pepperdine women’s volleyball coach Nina Matthies had an eye on Rouwenhorst when she was still in middle school noting even then that she was a well-rounded player with enthusiasm for the game. Matthies’ expectations for Rouwenhorst’s professional career are no less illustrious than those she had for the middle-school girl she hoped would one day commit to playing at Pepperdine.
Matthies appreciated that even in middle-school Rouwenhorst “[knew] volleyball inside and out.” Matthies believed that Pepperdine was a “perfect fit” for Rouwenhorst who she called a “sweet fun individual.”
Pepperdine pursued Rouwenhorst through high school during the allotted recruitment period. However she “surprised the heck” out of Matthies when she finally committed to the Waves as Rouwenhorst had chosen to remain silent when deciding where to play collegiate volleyball. Though surprised by Rouwenhorst’s commitment after her tight-lipped senior season Matthies enjoyed helping to mold her natural talent into the refined skill of a player capable of consistent delivery on the court.
Above all Matthies said she found it rewarding to see Rouwenhorst “branch out and grow and become really sure of herself as a person and player.”
During her years as the women’s volleyball coach Matthies has enjoyed watching her players graduate and pursue a variety of careers.
“We have doctors people with their own businesses teachers coaches moms…” said Matthies.
Despite the joy that Matthies receives from seeing her former players succeed in the business world she encouraged Rouwenhorst to see what else the game of volleyball had in store for her.
“I still think she can be one of the top beach volleyball players in the world said Matthies. If you never quit your day job to become a professional athlete you never know if you can do it.”
Matthies’ belief in Rouwenhorst proved worth the investment.
“I actually don’t think I would be playing beach volleyball right now if it wasn’t for her said Rouwenhorst.
Rouwenhorst’s love for volleyball has developed through years of practice and persistence. But the sport has grown into more than just a game. It has been a vital lifeline that Rouwenhorst has held on to throughout gut-wrenching hardship. Rouwenhorst used the court as a switch to shut off her mind to the pain of losing her mother to cancer at the end of her sophomore year at Pepperdine.
I just wouldn’t think about it on the court or at least try not to said Rouwenhorst.
But shutting off her thoughts wasn’t always possible.
One time a ref who didn’t know she had passed away asked me how my mom was right before a match and it brought all of those emotions up said Rouwenhorst. That was a tough match to play.”
A first-hand observer of Rouwenhorst’s battle to overcome the loss of her mother who was also her high school coach Matthies has a deep respect for her accomplishments.
“She handled it like a champ didn’t miss a beat said Matthies. However she handled all of that was unbelievable.”
Not only has Rouwenhorst handled her pain – she has grown through it. She is currently celebrating the joy of an engagement to Zack Brannon and is planning a March wedding. She is also a part-time junior high math teacher.
Rouwenhorst’s career is still on the rise and the levels she will ascend to as a player have yet to be seen.
“It’s about balancing all the parts of your life and being able to function said Matthies. For her to be happy and satisfied with her performance is all you can really wish for anyone.”
Above all Matthies harbors a simple hope for Rouwenhorst.
“Once you stop you stop. You don’t get the competing ever again said Matthies, who encourages Rouwenhorst to play as long as she can and be successful doing it.”
Matthies hopes that as Rouwenhorst continues to build her portfolio as a professional beach volleyball player remnants of the Pepperdine volleyball program will stay with her.
Women’s volleyball at Pepperdine is “a sounding board and a place of refuge said Matthies. But we’re also a fire starter.”
Fortunately Rouwenhorst’s fire for volleyball only seems to glow brighter the longer it burns.