Varsity volleyball captain junior Josie Hellyer has turned years of hard work into a great accomplishment. The setter recently announced her commitment on Sept. 1 to play Division 1 volleyball at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. Playing volleyball in college was a goal she had been working towards since first stepping onto the high school court. Her determination and positive mindset drove her to reach her goal, accepting this fantastic opportunity not only for her athletic achievements, but also for the next step in her academic and personal journey.
Like most athletes, Hellyer was in multiple sports growing up. She grew out of them and focused entirely on volleyball once she realized she had a genuine love and talent for the sport. She was able to develop her talent to a Division 1 level. Varsity volleyball coach Sara Baumgard also recognized Hellyer’s talent to play at the D1 level throughout her years with the team.
“Josie has been a part of the high school program at the JV varsity level since eighth grade, she has stood out for her work ethic. I’ve never seen somebody in middle school work as hard as she has. She’s very determined and in regards to playing D1, she just has what it takes to be successful,” Baumgard said.
Hellyer has grown into a leader for her team, taking on the role of one of the team’s captains, a position that carries significant responsibility. Her teammates notice that her leadership has a positive impact on the team’s performance, as she can encourage and hold everyone, including herself, to their highest performance abilities.
Teammate and co-captain junior Ella Hartung specifically noticed Hellyer’s leadership, explaining that she “really just does a great job of staying calm in the moments that we need her to be and ultimately running the game for us”. Hartung added that “majority of our games she’s shown up and stood out”, but she gave an example from their game against “Lakeville South. We didn’t win that game, but in those high pressure situations she really just helps the team pull through and I think show our highest potential against some of the best competition we’re going to see.”
Hellyer did not always view herself as the player she is today. Playing for Kokoro volleyball club, she still had her goal of playing Division 1, but it did not feel as high because she was on the 14-2 team at the time. Varsity volleyball assistant coach Tess Kovala was actually Hellyer’s head coach during her club 14’s year. Kovala pushed Hellyer to be the confident player she has become.
“I was the only setter on my team, which grew my confidence a lot just knowing that my team and my coach trusted me to be on the court at all times,” Hellyer said. “We would talk a lot before games about how I would respond to times of adversity and how my mental toughness would stand out from others,” which was something that stuck with her.
Hellyer described her recruitment process as stressful, with NCAA rules limiting schools and coaches from directly contacting players. She noted that social media plays a significant role, using Instagram to post game clip highlights for schools to see. June 15 is the day that schools can reach out to players, and seeing her competitors and teammates commit that day brought on more stress; other schools would ‘ghost’, but she knew she was on her own path.
“I live by the quote “Everything happens for a reason”, and I think that was a huge part of my recruiting process. Everyone’s process is so different and trying not to compare myself to everyone else’s,” Hellyer said.
Hellyer’s journey to Division 1 volleyball demonstrates the power of hard work, patience, and staying true to yourself. From discovering her love for the sport to becoming a team captain at Stillwater, she has been pushed through challenges and celebrated big moments along the way. Her story serves as a reminder that everyone’s path is unique, and success stems from effort and self-confidence. As she gets ready to play at George Mason University, Hellyer’s leadership and determination will continue to inspire those around her. Hellyer said, “Everything happens for a reason,” and her story proves that with dedication, dreams can indeed come true.
