February 3, 2026
From Ferris State to Finland to nursing: How Olivia Henneman-Dallape’s volleyball journey shaped her life beyond the court
Ferris State alumna Olivia Henneman-Dallape says her time playing volleyball as a Bulldog prepared her for careers that found her on the top of the world, both geographically and personally.
Henneman-Dallape signed a professional contract with Polkky Kuusamo, a club located in northern Finland and spent nearly five months playing overseas before returning home in the spring of 2025.
It was a dream she had worked toward throughout her collegiate career at Ferris State, and one that would challenge her in ways the Ohio native never fully expected.
“Moving across the world in four days and being okay with being independent over there with nobody you know, taught me how to collaborate with others, make friends, and learn new hobbies,” she said.
Henneman-Dallape, a Nursing major, was the first Ferris State player ever to claim the National Player of the Year distinction. She also earned AVCA All-America First Team honors, claiming her second career All-America nod. She led Ferris State to the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals under head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm.
Kuusamo sits far north in Finland, a place known for long winters, and cultural differences. For Henneman-Dallape, the transition was eye opening and quite an adjustment.
“The culture in Finland is more introverted,” she said. “Small talk isn’t really a thing, and physical touch isn’t either. Everyone is extremely friendly, but you don’t walk into places and say ‘Hi’ unless you really know the person.”
Finnish people, she explained, pride themselves on honesty and loyalty — values she learned to appreciate over time. One cultural staple she quickly grew to love was the sauna. Nearly every apartment or studio includes one, and Finland is famously home to more saunas than cars.
Food was another pleasant surprise.
“It was very clean and healthy,” Henneman-Dallape said. Adjusting to Finnish food was easier than readjusting to American food when she returned home.
“There were a lot more gluten-free and lactose-free options, and I loved the pastries.”
Henneman-Dallape, taking a selfie in her nursing scrubs, knew even as a star-studded athlete that becoming a nurse was her true calling.
On the court, adjusting to their playing style was difficult at first. When Henneman-Dallape arrived in Finland, she changed positions to right side of the court, essentially restarting her volleyball identity at the professional level.
“There were a few weeks of uncertainty,” she said. “The ball is different, and practice was different. Volleyball is your job there.”
Unlike Ferris State, where team culture and relationships were central, professional volleyball in Finland had a more business-like feel. Teammates spent time together, but the family atmosphere Henneman-Dallape cherished in college was different.
“At Ferris, those girls became my family,” she said. “In Finland, culture in a program isn’t as big of a part of volleyball. That was something I struggled with.”
Henneman-Dallape credits Ferris State and its volleyball program for preparing her not just to play professionally, but to thrive in unfamiliar environments.
“Ferris taught me leadership, collaboration, communication and problem-solving skills that I use every single day,” she said. “Ferris State volleyball taught me loyalty, true friendship and how to be a better person.”
More than athletic development, she said Ferris emphasized being a winner beyond the court, by valuing education, supporting others and striving for excellence in every area of life.
“That’s why I was able to move across the world, start over, and be okay,” she said. “It taught me how to collaborate at work, make friends and find new hobbies. The support in every room, every building, every store in the city; it’s one of a kind. Ferris State is a place I’ll never forget, and I’ll always be a fan.”
Today, Henneman-Dallape channels the same discipline, empathy and resilience she learned through volleyball into her career as an oncology nurse at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, where she works night shifts caring for patients during some of their most vulnerable moments.
“I spend most of my time passing meds, charting and advocating for my patients,” she said. “I always try to make a small connection, because sitting in a hospital isn’t fun.”
Becoming a nurse was never a backup plan; it was always her end goal.
“I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” she said. “I’ve always been nurturing, passionate and open-hearted. I just want to help people and be there for them when they need someone.”
She mentioned how all the skills she learned during her time at Ferris made her successful outside of college, and that they made her who she is.
From Ohio to Big Rapids, from Finland to back home, and now residing in Grand Rapids, Henneman-Dallape’s journey is a direct reflection of her time at Ferris, and taking the opportunities that’s been provided to her as well as trusting that the lessons learned along the way carried her exactly where she was meant to be.