Digging past the pressure: True freshman Wolffis finding success as defensive specialist
The defensive leader on any volleyball team is the libero. For the Central Michigan volleyball team, that role is left to a true freshman, Jamison Wolffis.
The East Grand Rapids native leads the Chippewas 19 games into the season with 315 digs, averaging 4.2 digs per set.
“I think her progress has been phenomenal,” said Associate Head Coach Theresa Beeckman. “It’s really tough to play libero as a true freshman in (the Mid-American Conference). She is maturing every single day. She’s got such a steady mindset. She’s just out there trying to be her very best and she’s trying to do it right.”
Wolffis began playing volleyball in fourth grade for Gametime and then transitioned to the Michigan Volleyball Academy in fifth grade. Since suiting up for MVA, she has been playing volleyball year-round.
“I grew up around the game my whole entire life,” Wolffis said. “Both of my sisters played so it has always been a huge part of my life.”
She prepped at East Grand Rapids High School. Her head coach, Chris Grunewald, came in her freshman year. During Wolffis’ junior year, Grunewald led to the team to a state championship.
Wolffis was a two-time team captain and All-Stater for the Pioneers.
“It was a great experience,” Wolffis said. “(My coach) really emphasized the importance of volleyball and being a team. We always had so much fun. (Winning states) was my best experience playing volleyball so far.”
She has travelled to Florida every year since seventh grade to participate in AAU Nationals, placing 25th at AAU Nationals in 2014. As a freshman, she received libero honors.
Wolffis said there is a big difference between AAU and high school volleyball.
“You just put in a lot more time in club,” Wolffis said. “It’s more competitive but high school I would say we had some pretty tough games. I guess the pace of the game is faster.”
The accolades piled up for Wolffis. She was named a Defensive Dandy and Senior Ace by prepvolleyball.com in 2014. After this, she knew college volleyball would be an option.
“I always wanted to play college volleyball since I was in middle school,” Wolffis said. “I decided that is what I wanted to do and pursued it and chased my dreams.”
She drew interest from Grand Valley State and Austin Peay but decided to come to Mount Pleasant. She said it was more than volleyball that drew her to the Chippewas, citing proximity and academics.
“It’s close to home,” Wolffis said. “It felt like the right fit playing in the MAC.”
Wolffis did not envision herself starting so quickly. With Kristen Reenders returning as a top MAC libero as a senior, Wolffis thought she would have to wait her turn.
When Reenders left the team for undisclosed reasons, Head Coach Erik Olson decided to give Wolffis the different-colored jersey, reserved for the libero.
“I just knew I had to come in and play the game and work hard every day,” Wolffis said. “I knew that if I had a driven attitude and worked hard that I might able to see the court.”
Since becoming the team’s libero, Wolffis has been easy to spot on the court for reasons other than the different-colored jersey. In a Oct. 9 home contest against Ball State, Wolffis tallied 20 digs in a 3-1 win over the Cardinals. Beeckman called her “a difference maker.”
Wolffis said it was the best game she played so far.
“It was on our home court,” Wolffis said. “We wanted to have fun and we just played together.”
Wolffis’ teammates have noticed her not just by her statistics, but also by how she composes herself during games.
“Jamie is very chill when she plays,” said sophomore outside hitter Jessica Meichtry.
“She doesn’t freak out. She’s very reliable. When she misses a ball, I can see it in her eyes that she is going to get the next one.”
Olson said he’s impressed by how well Wolffis has played as a freshman.
“Jamie passes really well,” Olson said. “One of Jamie’s best strengths is keeping her composure. I just like her temperament from play-to-play. She’s doing it as a freshman and she’s doing it really well.”
Sophomore defensive specialist Courtney Hiltibran praised Wolffis’ work ethic.
“Jamie works really hard,” Hiltibran said. “She works really hard in practice—she has since she’s gotten here. We all work our butts off for the same goal.”
Wolffis said the hardest part about playing the libero position is not letting the ball drop.
“You have to have the mentality that no one is going to get a kill on me,” Wolffis said. “Everyone on the court should be giving 100 percent, but there are no off-days. You need to be getting the touches all the time.”
Wolffis and sophomore outside hitter Jordan Bueter lead this young group of Chippewas and will continue to lead them for the next two seasons. Wolffis is excited to see what this group can accomplish in the future.
“With such a young team, we could probably win a MAC Tournament sometime in our future,” Wolffis said. “We just have to use (our) skill and keep working every single day to get there.”
Wolffis, however, is making an impact now. At the team’s maroon and gold scrimmage in August, Wolffis said she felt no pressure to perform. Her performance has continued to garner praise from her teammates and coaches, including Beeckman.
“I think she’s going to keep getting better every single day and that’s the most exciting thing,” Beeckman said.
