Three years ago, Dordt University was barely on Lance Vermeer's radar.

Full Interview

Now, as he prepares to graduate with a business administration degree at just 21 years old, the outgoing Defender middle blocker can point to the exact moments when the pieces began falling into place.

"It was kind of a cool story," Vermeer said. "My sister visited here because she was interested in the Christian atmosphere and basketball. She ended up going somewhere else, but that's what originally put Dordt on my radar."

What started as curiosity quickly became something more. Vermeer discovered Dordt offered men's volleyball and a business program that matched his goals. By the time he left campus after his visit, he knew he had found the right fit.

"All the dots kind of aligned," he said. "I came for a visit and thought, 'Yeah, this is the school I want to attend for the rest of my college career.'"

For Vermeer, a native of Plattsburg, Missouri, the experience was about more than athletics. It was about growth — personally, spiritually, academically, and socially.

That growth became obvious over the course of three years.

"When I first got here, I was super introverted," Vermeer said. "I wasn't super interested in reaching out to people I'd never spoken to before. I stayed in my comfort zone."

College changed that.

Between team activities, campus life, and Dordt's Week of Welcome, Vermeer gradually discovered he enjoyed meeting people and hearing their stories.

"What I learned is that I actually enjoyed getting to know a lot of different people," he said. "I enjoyed talking to people, learning about their experiences and what brought them to Dordt. I grew into a little more of an extrovert."

That transformation mirrored the growth of the Defender men's volleyball program itself.

Vermeer arrived at Dordt after playing volleyball for only two years. His introduction to the sport came through a small Christian sports organization where parents organized boys teams for regional and national tournaments.

"I realized it was something that was really enjoyable to play," Vermeer said. "Then I thought, 'How do I go try out for a club?'"

When he first practiced with Dordt during his campus visit, the jump in competition was noticeable.

"It was a little overwhelming," he admitted. "All these guys had a lot more experience and were a lot better than I was. But I knew if I put enough work into it, I could fulfill a role on the team."

Over time, that role evolved into leadership.

During Dordt's historic 2026 season — one Vermeer called "definitely the best season so far" for the program — he became one of the players responsible for modeling the team culture for younger teammates.

"My role was living out our team culture," Vermeer said. "Showing incoming freshmen and newer guys what our values are just through actions and how you approach different things."

The Defenders' collective buy-in fueled one of the strongest campaigns in program history.

"Everyone had one thought in mind," Vermeer said. "We had a collective goal. Every day at practice we were trying to learn, grow, and experience things together so we could achieve that goal."

Growth was also central to Vermeer's academic path.

From the beginning, he planned to complete his degree in three years — a decision driven largely by financial stewardship.  The accelerated path required discipline, but it also opened doors early. Last summer, Vermeer completed an internship with a marketing agency where he worked in content creation, design, and networking with small businesses.

"It was really good experience," he said. "I was able to learn hands-on rather than just in the classroom."

Now entering the workforce, Vermeer is pursuing entry-level positions in marketing and human resources. His interest in HR stems largely from lessons learned through athletics and team culture.

"That's where the culture of a company happens," he said. "Through volleyball and past work experiences, I've realized how important that is."

As he reflects on his three years at Dordt, Vermeer sees more than a degree completed ahead of schedule or a successful volleyball career. He sees a period of transformation.

"I feel like God definitely led me here," Vermeer said. "I've met so many people, experienced so many new things, and learned a lot. It was definitely a super impactful experience."