Sibling Showdown: Islanders Volleyball Player and her Two Sisters take part in NCAA Tournament
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Sisterhood is one of life’s strongest of bonds, built on family, shared experiences, and sometimes shared interest. That just happens to be the case when it comes to Virginia Van Der Werff ’28, her two sisters, and their love of volleyball. Virginia is a freshman setter on the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Islanders Volleyball team that has earned a spot in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament. The Islanders face a formidable challenge in the opening round, taking on two-time defending national champions, the Texas Longhorns, Thursday night in Austin.
Turns out, Virginia won’t be the only Van Der Werff playing in the highly competitive postseason tournament.
“My sisters play on teams that are in the tournament as well,” Van Der Werff said. “We Facetimed after the selection show on Sunday and we were just screaming at each other! We were so excited!”
The Van Der Werffs’ love for volleyball took root in the American Heartland, in the small town of Lansing, Kansas. There, the Van Der Werff sisters grew up alongside their parents, Kelly and Jay, and their two older brothers. It was Amelia, the eldest sister and now a fifth-year senior and middle blocker for the University of Utah volleyball team, who first stepped onto the court. Her passion for the game quickly became contagious, inspiring her two younger sisters to follow in her footsteps and make volleyball their sport of choice.
“Amelia played soccer until she was 12, and then she decided to get into volleyball. Then me and my other sister, Olivia Mae, joined in,” Van Der Werff said. “I found out pretty quickly that I loved the sport.”
Virginia and her sister Olivia Mae, now a junior outside hitter/middle blocker on the College of Charleston Volleyball team, got to share in their love for the sport while they were in high school. During Olivia Mae’s senior year and Virginia’s sophomore year at Lansing High School, they won a state title in volleyball.
“Getting to share that moment with my sister was so special,” Van Der Werff said. “It’s something that will always bond us, something we did for our high school and town.”
Now, the three sisters are eyeing another championship — the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship. Adding an extra layer of excitement for the Van Der Werff family is a first-round matchup that hits close to home — Amelia’s Utah team will be on the opposing side of the net from Olivia Mae’s College of Charleston team. It’s a sibling showdown that has the family thrilled, but also nervous.
“My parents are super excited for all three of us,” Van Der Werff said. “Because my sisters’ game is closer to home, in Utah, they are going to see my sisters play each other, and they are going to try to remain neutral.”
For the Van Der Werff sisters, the tournament is more than a chance at a championship. It’s the culmination of years of dedication and love for the game. And while only one team can hoist the trophy, the trio agree the most important title they will all carry after the game is that of sisters.
“I look up to my older sisters so much. They’re my biggest role models in life,” Van Der Werff said. “I see how they play on the court. Both of my sisters are super hard workers, and they’re both very kind people, and all of their teammates love them. Seeing them be leaders makes me want to be a better leader.”
Thursday’s game will be A&M-Corpus Christi’s fifth trip to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament and first since the 2021 season. It comes after the Islanders defeated Southeastern in the Southland Conference Championship 3-0 to earn the league’s automatic bid to the postseason.
