For Dordt University volleyball player Tarren Spartz, graduation isn't waiting for the traditional four-year mark. The Wilmont, Minnesota native will walk across the stage this spring—after just three years on campus—and begin preparing for the next step in her journey toward becoming a physical therapist.

Full Interview 

It's a decision that took contemplation and clarity.

"I had a tough decision deciding between graduating in three or four years," Spartz said. "I wanted the full four-year experience, but knowing I have another three years of physical therapy school ahead, I just wanted to get the ball rolling so I can start that next chapter sooner."

Three years ago, Spartz was a multi-sport athlete at Worthington High School who discovered Dordt—thanks to a familiar face.

"I actually found out about Dordt through Ellie Weg, my high school teammate," Spartz explained. "Her mom went here, and Ellie came to a camp and invited me along. I wasn't really looking at Dordt, but once I came to that camp, Coach Jacki reached out, and the more I learned about the program, the more it felt like the right place."

It wasn't an easy decision. "People always tell you not to go to college with your best friend," she said, laughing. "But looking back, I'm so glad I did. The friendships, the growth, the Dordt and Sioux Center community—it's been incredible."
From the beginning, Spartz noticed something different about the Defender volleyball program.

"The girls here were so genuine and welcoming," she said. "At other schools, I felt like players were more focused on themselves. Here, it felt like they cared about me as a person, not just a volleyball player."

That early experience shaped the way she now interacts with younger players. "I try to make freshmen feel the same way those upperclassmen made me feel—comfortable and valued," she said. "This year, our team is so connected across all classes, and I think that's a big reason for our success."

On the court, Spartz has grown from a nervous freshman to a confident, powerful presence at the net. She still remembers one of her first "big" moments—a perfect set, a clean hit, and the gym erupting in practice. "It wasn't even a game," she said with a smile. "But it's that feeling of hitting one through the block and seeing your teammates cheer for you. That's what I'll miss most—the energy, the momentum, the shared excitement."

As she looks beyond Dordt, Spartz is aiming for a future in physical therapy, with a particular interest in inpatient and neuro rehabilitation.

"I like the variety of PT work," she said. "You're not doing the same thing every day, and you get to build real relationships with patients. I've shadowed in clinics and talked with family members in the field, and it's just a great fit for me."

Her top choice right now is the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where she hopes to train in rural health care practices. "I want to stay near home and focus on helping people in smaller communities," she said. "In places like this, you learn to work with what you have—simple tools, simple spaces—but the impact is just as big."

Before graduate school, Spartz plans to take a gap year, focusing on personal training certification and staying active in her community. "I've worked at the YMCA as a lifeguard for the last four years," she said. "I'd love to get my coaching or personal training license, work there, and save up before grad school."

Over the past three years, Spartz says she's learned as much about faith and identity as she has about volleyball.

"I've grown a lot in being okay with the unknown," she reflected. "I've learned to trust God's timing and understand that volleyball isn't my identity—Christ is. I don't have to be the best at everything; I just need to be faithful with the gifts He's given me."

As her final season winds down, Spartz is savoring every moment.  "The other night I was on the bench, and it just hit me: I'm really going to miss this," she said. "The loud gym, the energy, the girls—they've become some of my best friends."

Whether she's attacking a set, coaching a young athlete, or helping a patient regain mobility someday, Tarren Spartz approaches each challenge with gratitude, growth, and grace.

"I'm excited for what's next," she said. "But Dordt will always be a big part of who I am."