Where Are They Now?

Jenelle Koester, 1995-1998

Volleyball

After working with some of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the country at the University of Connecticut, Jenelle Koester was transformed from “a lanky volleyball player to an all around athlete” during her playing days as a Husky. Her results now: playing pro volleyball with the AVP tour.

At 10 years old, Koester began playing volleyball for her small hometown of Beason, Ill. Before school, her team would work hard and serve 200 balls every day. They won back to back titles for the state of Illinois.

In high school, Koester acquired three varsity letters, and won All-State and All-Conference accolades.  Along with these achievements, she was on the honor roll.

After being recruited to play for the Huskies, Koester fell in love with the school and the team.

“It was a great school academically,” she said.  “I really got along with all the players when I came on my recruiting visit.  It had a very united feeling overall.”

During her career at UConn, Koester won BIG EAST Player of the week three times, and was a three-time All-BIG EAST player.  By her junior year, she broke the career total record of kills with 1,190. Senior year, she became the first player to reach the 1,500 plateau in career hits. She ended her career with 1,724 kills.

On November 9, 1998, Koester posted the fourth-best hitting percentage in NCAA history in a single match.

Along with her personal achievements, Koester helped lead the volleyball team to numerous wins, including a Notre Dame defeat her senior year to win the regular season BIG EAST title.

After college, Koester had tired from the sport and decided to take a break with her former teammate, Ann Roberson.

“I called [her] and asked her where she wanted to live,” Koester said.  “She said the only place she would live other than her hometown of Tempe, Ariz. would be San Diego.  I had never been there and told her I was in, and I packed up my car and drove out within a few weeks.”

After a few days of living in a hotel, Koester and Roberson found a place to live and permanent jobs.  After two years, Koester decided to start playing volleyball again.

“I started playing beach and realized how much I missed the sport,” she said.

In the past five years, Koester worked as a personal assistant for a family in San Diego, while balancing her volleyball career.  The only problem was driving up to Los Angeles three times a week to train. So, Koester decided to pursue her dream and move to Los Angeles, so she could commit herself fully to volleyball.

This past season was Koester’s first year playing full-time volleyball for the AVP tour.  While with the tour, Koester has had the opportunity to play for the United States in several international tournaments in countries such as Thailand, Ireland, Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.

“I definitely know that I haven’t reached my potential yet,” she said.  “I am planning on really working hard this off season so next season I am stronger.  I am also working on obtaining more sponsorship so that I can hire a coach, and also help alleviate the travel expenses.”

Since the season has ended this year, she has been working on television and movie sets doing extra work and also being body doubles for actresses on shows such as CSI: Miami, Las Vegas, and Desperate Housewives.  She will be competing on the New Zealand tour this off season that has six events and runs throughout January.

She currently lives in Redondo Beach, Calif, where she keeps in touch with other former Husky teammates who are living in the Southern California area.

--Naomi Smith