SPRING 2022 31 VAN POPPEL’S EXTRAORDINARY HOMECOMING HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING By Jason Lippert In her lone season at DBU, Halee Van Poppel became just the second AllAmerican in program history when the American Volleyball Coaches Association recognized the Patriots’ outside hitter as an NCAA Division II Honorable Mention All-American at season’s end. A senior transfer from Belmont University, a Division I program located in Nashville, Tennessee, Halee made the decision to return to the Lone Star state to finish out her collegiate career. A native of nearby Argyle, Texas, Halee wanted to return to her roots for her final year of eligibility. “I knew this was where I wanted to be,” Halee said. “Being able to play close to home and also have an extra year to compete is a blessing. I’ve been so thankful for this opportunity.” For Halee, family is everything. Her father, Todd Van Poppel, carved out a successful MLB career over the course of 11 seasons before retiring in 2005. Despite not pushing for his kids to play sports, his competitive spirit permeated throughout the family. “He really influenced my mental approach to the game and to life. It’s been awesome to have him in my life and to grow up with that background in sports.” Halee explored her options, ultimately falling in love with Belmont University and Nashville. Halee began her college career at Belmont, completing her double major in chemistry and biology while also being a stand-out player on the court. When COVID impacted college sports and provided her an extra year of eligibility, she decide to start her master’s work and looked to move back home. Halee did not take long to adjust to life at DBU, stepping up in practice and filling a leadership role on a roster with several new faces. “Halee has always been a lead-by-example player,” coach Jordan Fish shared, who sought to recruit Halee through the transfer portal. “Other teammates have seen that and said ‘I want to be like that.’ She’s our floor captain.” Halee didn’t skip a beat from her time at Belmont, posting double-digit kills in 19 straight matches to open the season. Her offensive excellence resulted in a conference-leading 4.41 kills per set, a mark that was 7th-best among all Division II student-athletes. Halee’s all-out effort culminated in not only All-American honors, but she also became the first player in program history to be named LSC Newcomer of the Year and the first DBU Volleyball player to garner First Team honors since 2017. Her competitive nature has been a large factor in the Lady Patriots’ turnaround in 2021. DBU finished with a 14-8 record, marking the highest win percentage since 2013. While she has concluded the final chapter of her collegiate career, Halee is excited for whatever comes next. “I want to be a part of the medical field. I have a passion for people and want to help serve,” explained Halee. “I just want people to know that I have loved being able to wear ‘DBU’ across my chest. It has meant a lot. I want this team and our fans to know that I’ve been playing for them, and that I’m so thankful for the opportunity to play this game back home.”
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