From Biola in La Mirada to Holtz, Germany, junior communications major Raegan Tjepkema’s volleyball career has been anything but ordinary. Tjepkema played for Biola for two seasons in 2019-21 and took a gap year to pursue volleyball professionally in Germany. Instead of spiking the volleyball in Germany, she is now back at Biola, busting out the books.
JUST GETTING STARTED
Tjepkema started her volleyball career around the age of 10. The 6-foot-3-inch powerhouse committed to Biola because she wanted to attend a faith-filled campus.
“I wanted to go to a school where my faith would be first,” Tjepkema said. “I knew I would put volleyball first if I went anywhere else.”
Training at Biola, Tjepkema grew as an athlete. She stated she got faster in the sport and ran middle plays a lot, which helped her grow confidence.
While at Biola, she got close to her teammate, Computer Science student Vanessa Garcia, who graduated in 2021. Garcia started playing for TV Holtz, a professional volleyball team in Germany and invited Tjepkema to visit her. She told her coaches about Tjepkema and told Tjepkema to “bring your volleyball shoes,” and TV Holtz offered her a spot on the team.
Tjepkema’s position was middle blocker and continued to excel her skills in Germany with TV Holtz.
WHEN IN HOLTZ
The sport translates well — the language not so much. One of the biggest challenges Tjepkema faced was the language barrier. Born and raised in Mission Viejo, California, her native language was English. In Germany, the primary language is German.
Tjepkema explained that you are thrown into the language barrier, and no one’s there to hold your hand, but Duolingo helped her immensely.
“The coach explains the drill, and you’re just standing, not knowing what’s being said, and you have to watch and figure it out. You have to be a really quick learner, adaptable and assertive, but also go with the flow,” said Tjepkema.
Although she and Garcia were the only two Americans, Garcia and a few girls on her team would help translate what was being said. The translating cycle continued as Garcia left the team to join another country team. Another American from Hawaii came and filled her spot, and Tjepkema was able to help translate for her.
Tjepkema also had to adjust to the difference between how she was trained using National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) rules and playing professionally, which had different rules.
For example, if the ball hits the ceiling in professional volleyball, it’s a point for the other team. According to the NCAA and high schools, if it hits the ceiling and comes back down on your side, you can still play it. But playing professionally, a player can’t.
Germany prioritized different skills and helped Tjepkema develop a broader skill set.
“It’s a different type of volleyball in Germany,” Tjepkema said. “They prioritize different parts of the game. [College] prioritizes having good serves, but strangely, it’s not as prioritized like, your gaming skills are definitely more prioritized.”
ROOTED DEEPLY
Although Tjepkema faced many challenges, she grew to have a deeper appreciation for her roots.
“My family has always been like, we’re Dutch, we’re from Friesland,” Tjepkema said. “We’re always very proud of our heritage. So I think it lit the fire a little bit more.”
Her family is from the Netherlands and was able to visit some family members during her time with her team.
“My favorite [place I visited was the] Netherlands because that’s where my family heritage is from. And I got to see a little bit of my own personal family history,” said Tjepkema.
She visited one of her family members who owns an old-fashioned windmill that is a national landmark. Being able to see her homeland and learn about her people was a special experience for Tjepkema.
GOD’S PLAN
Tjepkema wanted to balance her volleyball career and her academics.
Tjepkema states, “I’ve always tried to keep volleyball second, and I have a burning passion for it, so it always wants to be on the forefront. And I have always had coaches pushing for it to be on the forefront.”
But sometimes, our plans don’t align with the Lord’s, and he guides us to where we truly need to be. Or, he sends us signs — in Tjepkema’s case, the volleyball hit her in the face five times.
During her last match with TV Holtz, she was hit in the head two times during warmups and three times during the game. Being very competitive and determined, she pushed through the game.
“Getting hit in the head by them really fueled a fire,” Tjepkema said.
She managed to push through the game, but at her next practice, all her symptoms of a concussion came out. Imagine being sent to an ER in a foreign country with no family members and doctors who don’t understand you.
“No one on the ambulance spoke English, and then when I got to the hospital, there was only one doctor who spoke English,” said Tjepkema. “I was angry because they didn’t understand how severe this was.”
She took pain medications, called her mom, and booked her next flight back to California. Last November, she was diagnosed with positional vertigo and a concussion, which ended her professional career for now.
BACK TO WHERE IT ALL STARTED
Tjepkema picked up two Biola classes during the Spring semester of 2024 and continued her academic studies. She wanted more than a professional athlete’s lifestyle; she longed for academic challenges.
“Go to practice, go to the game, do whatever,” Tjepkema stated. “I missed having a routine and like growing my mind.”
She returned to Biola because “everyone is so nice, and the classes are so small that everyone’s so personal. You don’t feel alone,” said Tjepkema.
Tjepkema is excited about the new challenges ahead. Before leaving for Germany, she was majoring in public relations. However, she now faces her first obstacle: Biola discontinued the public relations major while she was abroad. As a result, she is now pursuing a communications major.
“Taking new classes, meeting new professors, and learning new things is always so exciting, said Tjepkema. “Enjoying the learning part of it all has been really great. It was the second part of playing volleyball here; now it’s the top thing, and I love it.”
FULL CYCLE
Tjepkema hasn’t retired her volleyball shoes just yet. Before she left to play for TV Holtz, she was a coach for Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Margarita for a season. Tjepkema played for them when she was in high school, and now she is teaching young girls the game.
“As long as you love the game, no matter what level you’re playing at, you’re having the best time ever,” Tjepkema said. “Even if I’m just passing a ball with one of my girls … I love volleyball.”
In navigating the ups and downs of her volleyball career, Tjepkema has demonstrated resilience and embraced the importance of her academic journey and personal development. Her time in Germany helped shape who she is today.
