Beneath a spray of green laser lights Number 12, Sarah VanderMolen, runs out to join the line-up.
It’s the Force’s third home match of the Women’s Professional Volleyball League inaugural season, and it’s a good one—the Force defeats the St. Louis Quest in three straight games.
Afterwards, VanderMolen and the rest of the Force sign autographs at folding banquet tables set up on the court. People are lined up six deep to have their favorite players autograph Force posters.
“This is what it’s been like all three times so far,” VanderMolen says. “The crowds are just awesome.”

The Best OFFENSE…
VanderMolen is the only non-NCAA Division I player on the Force. While at Ferris State, she became only the fifth player in the history of Ferris volleyball to amass both 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills. In 2000, during her senior year, her Bulldog teammates voted her Most Valuable Player. The American Volleyball Coaches Association also named her to the All-Great Lakes Region squad for the second time. On this night, at least, it’s the experience gained from her 1,054 college digs that VanderMolen is drawing most heavily on. She is the Force’s libero, a defensive specialist who plays from the back row and cannot serve, conduct an attack or “finger set” in the front zone.
Against the Quest, VanderMolen comes up with 16 digs. The Force’s strong defensive play appears to wear down the Quest, especially in the second game of the match, which the Force wins 25-14. The Force lead throughout the third game, making the final score of 25-20 seem closer than it really was.

A LEAGUE of Their Own
The USPV is another sign that women’s sports have truly come of age. While time will tell about the viability of the league, the Force has started strong, drawing crowds comparable to, or better than, the Grand Rapids Hoops men’s professional basketball team.
The response has been a pleasant surprise, says VanderMolen. More surprises appear to be in store next year as the USPV expands from its current four teams (the Chicago Thunder and Minnesota Chill round out the league) to 10. “That’ll be fun,” VanderMolen says. “A lot more travel, a little longer season. We’ll be going beyond the Midwest to the West Coast. More teams should generate even more interest.”
VanderMolen certainly hopes that interest continues to grow. “People used to ask me if I was going to play professionally, and I’d tell them there weren’t any teams. Now there are, and I just want to keep playing as long as there’s a league,” she says.

The FREEDOM to Play
Even though her player profile on the Force’s Web site says she’s not the kind of person who really has heroes, being one herself is a role with which VanderMolen seems comfortable. The first time she hit the court beneath that array of green laser lights, she says she wasn’t nervous—only anxious to finally be getting underway after months of twice-a-day practices.
The name of VanderMolen’s position, libero, is Italian for “free.” It’s also a position new to the game. For centuries, people have looked to sports to help define the limits of what it means to be human: How fast can we run? How high can we jump? How far can we throw? VanderMolen and her teammates are using the new freedom women have in sports to push the limits not only for their own generation, but for the next generation of women athletes, as well.

For more information. Click Here.

 

FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
Big Rapids, Michigan
USA - 49307

Main Switchboard
(231) 591-2000
Campus Police
(231) 591-5000