Armed with glowing high school stats,
Holly Hafemeyer looked to take her volleyball skills to a higher level.
A graduate of Minnesota Class A powerhouse Bethlehem Academy, the talented middle blocker received offers from colleges and universities representing all NCAA divisions. Her search ended with a visit to Augustana.
"I come from a small, Catholic school," she said. "I was in a class of 36. I was looking for a college with Christian values, small classes, and a good volleyball program. After most of the visits I would say, 'okay, that was nice.' On the way home from our visit to Augustana, my mom said I never stopped smiling…and it's a three-hour drive."
With the conclusion of the recruiting process, it came time for the 6-foot-2 Hafemeyer to test the waters of collegiate volleyball.
"It was definitely overwhelming, and I was behind for a long time," she said. "The college game is so much faster it makes your head spin. But the older middles and Kasey (then assistant coach Kasey Nikkel) eventually got me ready to go."
Augustana coach Ashley Buckley never doubted her prize recruit had the tools to excel at the college level.
"I saw at lot of potential because of her size; plus she played on a strong club team," Buckley said. "As a freshman she experienced the typical transition for a middle blocker to the speed of the college game. By her junior year she had reached her stride."
Hafemeyer definitely turned heads while competing for Bethlehem Academy, located in Faribault, Minn. In 2009 she was chosen Minnesota Class A player of the year. She was a two-time Class A All-State first-team pick. She helped the Cardinals to a pair of state championships and two runner-up finishes.
Her progress as a collegiate player included growing an inch to 6-3. She started all of Augustana's 28 matches as a sophomore and appeared in 98 of 101 sets. At the end of the season she was named to the All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team.
Last season was a breakout year for Hafemeyer. She was an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America third team selection, an All-Central Region first-team choice and was a first-team all-conference pick. She started all 30 matches, played in all 103 sets, and was the Vikings' leader in attack percentage (.312), blocks (92), kills (362), and 78 block assists.
Hafemeyer came out swinging to start the 2013 season.
She unleashed 55 kills to lead the Vikings to a 4-0 record at the Spring Hill Suites Invitational in Anchorage, Alaska. Her play, including a .400 hitting average, resulted in a berth on the all-tournament team and Most Outstanding Player recognition.
"It was my first trip to Alaska and it's so awesome and so beautiful there. To top it off we really played well as a team and any one of us could have won that award."
Next came the NSIC Challenge and again the Vikings went 4-0. Hafemeyer topped all players with a .421 attack percentage in addition to 58 kills and 22 blocks. She was named the NSIC defensive player of the week with a career-high 11 blocks against Northwest Missouri State.
The next week she slammed a career-high 25 kills against the University of Sioux Falls. At No. 8 Wayne State, Hafemeyer had 19 kills and hit .500 to lead the Vikings past the Wildcats in three games.
Augustana won nine of its first 11 matches with Hafemeyer averaging 4.29 kills and 1.26 blocks per set while hitting .392.
"What really defines Holly is her consistency," said Buckley. "Teams make it a special point to prepare for her, but she stills finds a way to score at the net. And this spring she committed to improving her blocking and becoming a better defensive player."
Teamed with former high school adversaries like
Courtney Ysker from Windom, Minn., and
Christine Bielski from Chaska, Minn., Hafemeyer looks for another winning season with the Vikings in the most competitive conference in NCAA Division II.
"We have a lot of experience and are excited to play. We want to make it to the conference and regional tournaments, but we must be consistent to have a chance. Our conference is crazy and you must play well no matter who you are up against or where the match is being played. The conference is packed with good teams."
Throughout her playing days, Hafemeyer has never strayed from the middle blocker post. "Sometimes in practice I will go to the outside, but I'm really lost out there."
For Buckley, the stellar senior's contributions to Viking volleyball go beyond game day.
"She is such a caring person and is always helping to develop the younger middles," Buckley said. "When these things happen it makes the player hard to replace."
Hafemeyer, an Athletic Training major and an academic All-NSIC student-athlete, will graduate in May. From Augustana she hopes to pursue an advanced degree in physical therapy.
"I've applied to several schools and am waiting to hear back," she said. "I've always wanted to do something in the medical field and I really like the rehabilitation aspect of the profession."
Any thoughts about passing up an opportunity to play at the Division I level?
Smiling, she shakes her head. "No. I love it here."
