As Dordt University marks 50 years of Defender volleyball, the milestone offers a natural opportunity to look back at the matches, banners, and milestones that have shaped the program over five decades.

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Yet for Jill (Bouma) Haan, who graduated in 2006, the memories that surface first have very little to do with final scores.

"Honestly, thinking about volleyball time at Dordt, it's more about the friendships and the relationships," Haan reflected. "The time spent with teammates off the court more than memories of certain games or wins and losses. Just that bond you make with your teammates."

Names like Tara De Boer, Rachel Van Beek, Lindsay Van Schepen, and Rachel Pontier immediately come to mind for Haan. Even two decades later, those collegiate connections remain active, resurfacing with laughter and shared recollections whenever old teammates cross paths.

Haan's four, however, were not without adversity. After suffering an injury during basketball season, she faced a demanding recovery window to return in time for the fall volleyball campaign.

"I think I got cleared during tryouts—I had a quick drive to Sioux Falls during a practice so that I could get cleared to play," Haan recalled. "That can be a trying time, but when you're in it, it seems long. When you get to the other side of it, you look back and say, 'Hey, that really wasn't that bad. You get through it.' You can always see things you take away that make you a better person, help you keep fighting for things you want, and work hard for goals you want to accomplish."

That ability to keep circumstances in perspective was reinforced daily by the mentors around her, starting with longtime head coach Tom Van Den Bosch.

"Coach Van Den Bosch just really had a big impact on me," said Haan. "He loved volleyball, pushed us hard, worked us hard, and was a great coach. But he also made sure our emphasis wasn't always on volleyball and winning and losing. He just helped us see that there's more to life than just volleyball."

That culture extended across campus. Haan recalls serving as a teaching assistant for Professor Warner, a faculty member who initially had little familiarity with athletics. After getting to know Haan over a couple of semesters, he made a point to attend a match at the De Witt Gymnasium to support her—a small gesture that left a lasting impression about the community investment at Dordt.

Today, Haan finds herself on the other side of the court as a parent of young athletes and as a coach. The lessons learned during her playing days continue to guide her approach to both roles.

"As a parent, it's just realizing that my kids are still kids," Haan said. "They need a chance to be a kid and not always worry about volleyball or whatever sport they're in, but just enjoy their high school and grade school years having fun with their friends.

And on the coaching side, just realizing how important those relationships are—that's what you look back to. I try to provide opportunities for my team and parents outside of volleyball to have get-togethers, grow as friends, and not always worry about being on the court."