How patience is paying off for Ballard volleyball setter Ellie Volkmann

Ellie Volkmann had to bide her time before becoming a varsity starter for the Ballard volleyball team.

Volkmann, now a senior at Ballard, grew up playing with a group of girls that was extremely successful in middle school. When she got to high school Volkmann was part of a Bomber freshman team that lost only one game.

During Volkmann's freshman year Brooklyn Baumgardner, her 6-foot, 2-inch classmate, joined the varsity team.

“I got to watch Brooklyn when we were freshmen go to varsity right away,” said Volkmann. “That was so cool.”

But Volkmann was unable to crack the varsity lineup until her junior year. Last season Volkmann saw limited playing time, getting in 26 sets playing setter behind Riley Askelsen and Ally Baker in Ballard's 6-2 rotation.

Volkmann showed she could handle playing at the highest level, finishing with 53 assists in her limited time. But she was far from satisfied.

This past offseason she put in a lot of time playing with the Iowa PowerPlex Volleyball Club. Volkmann worked tirelessly on her game with the hope of becoming a starting setter for Ballard during her senior year.

“That helped me get extra reps and more game time in,” Volkmann said. “I’ve been working on being more consistent with my sets and tempos with quicker sets, especially on the right side.”

It paid off.

Volkmann was named a starting setter before the start of the season.

“I’ve been waiting for it, and it’s happened,” Volkmann said. “It’s a good feeling.”

With Ballard's move from the 6-2 to a 5-1 rotation this season, Volkmann is the lone starting setter for the Bombers.

“With running Ellie in a 5-1 we get more consistent sets,” said Ballard coach Erica Fee. “We’re able to utilize her a little bit more. She’s able to be a little dynamic in the front row and gets some tips and dumps.”

It has worked so far.

Ballard is 8-2 through its first 10 matches of the 2023 season. The team's statistics were updated through the first eight matches and Volkmann had 118 assists.

Volkmann's average of 6.6 assists per set ranks 11th in Class 4A.

“Setters have the hardest job ever,” Baumgardner said. “She gets there fast and sets it perfectly every time.”

Volkmann said her favorite play is called "Six,” where she sets up right-side hitter Alliyah Thompson for an attack.

“I like setting the six behind my head," Volkmann said. "Alliyah and our other right-sides are good at putting that ball away for me.”

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Because she is the lone setter on the court, Volkmann plays all six rotations.

“She’s on the floor the whole time giving her best effort,” Baumgardner said. “It’s a lot of work to be on the floor the whole time. She’s done an amazing job.”  

Volkmann ranks fourth on the team with 13 digs and she also has seven kills on 26.1% efficiency. Her only shortcomings on defense are her blocking, which is mostly due to her only standing 5-foot-6, and reacting to tips, which is something Fee said can easily be fixed.

“Her defense – if she’s got an attack coming her way, she is sound,” Fee said. “We’re just working on picking up those tips and she’s getting better every practice.”

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Outside of setting, Volkmann's biggest strength on the court is her serving. Through Ballard's first eight matches Volkmann ranked third on the team with nine aces.

“I like serving," Volkmann said. "I do my best to get all my serves in.”

Volkmann is also very supportive of her teammates.

“She’s super-encouraging,” Baumgardner said. “We all love her.”

Even with her limited varsity experience, Volkmann is viewed as a strong mentor by her teammates and coaches. Her work ethic and positive attitude to earn a starting spot as a senior has served as a great example that patience pays off.

“Ellie is a leader,” Fee said. “Last year she sat on the bench for us, and she really took that into consideration this season. She wanted it and she deserves where she’s at.”

Volkmann is set on helping Ballard take the next step as a program. The Bombers went 17-14 last year, just their third winning season over the last decade and first since 2017.

“I just want to help my team out the best I can,” Volkmann said. “We hope to have a winning record and possibly have our first shot at state ever.”

Fee said Volkmann has the potential to achieve some big accomplishments before the season is over.

“She’s going to push her teammates to be better, especially her hitters,” Fee said. “I think maybe there are some records in her future.”

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Patience is paying off for Ballard volleyball player Ellie Volkmann