Abby Vander Wal ‘staying hungry’ as she joins Texas volleyball
ELMHURST, Ill. (BVM) – Abby Vander Wal is the No. 2-ranked high school volleyball player nationally in the Class of 2025. As one of the best outside hitters in the country, it’s no surprise that Vander Wal will soon join one of the top programs in college volleyball: the reigning national champion Texas Longhorns.
I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Texas!! The biggest thank you to God, my coaches, friends, and family for all the help along the way. Thank you to Coach Elliott, Coach Hunt and Coach Sullivan for this incredible opportunity!! Hook ‘em!!🤘🏼 pic.twitter.com/hlICFvYORW
— Abby Vander Wal (@AbbyVWal) June 17, 2023
“It was incredible getting to watch them win this past year,” Vander Wal said. “I think it’s super cool that it’s possible when I get to Texas for our team to win a national championship. I really get chills. It’s definitely a big goal and I’ll be hungry and ready to go as soon as I get there.”
Vander Wal committed to the Longhorns in June 2023 and recently signed her national letter of intent with the program.
welcome home, @AbbyVWal! 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/xfa4OmI0qr
— Texas Volleyball (@TexasVolleyball) November 13, 2024
Despite growing up in the heart of Big Ten country in Illinois, Vander Wal found everything she wanted at Texas, in part thanks to fellow Class of 2025 commit Callie Krueger who encouraged her to come to Austin for a camp.
“Obviously a lot of Big Ten schools were in play,” Vander Wal said. “I didn’t know a ton about the Texas program. Immediately, as soon as I got there, I just felt this different feeling.
“It was everything that I needed and wanted in a college. I immediately knew this is where I wanted to go … I definitely got sold by the culture, the coaches and how much all the girls play for each other.”
Texas is getting a special talent with the 6-foot-3 outside hitter who has been playing volleyball since she was 8 years old. Inspired by her cousins, Vander Wal instantly grew a passion for the sport.
“I fell in love with the sport basically as soon as I started playing,” Vander Wal said. “The higher the level I started getting to, I just started to enjoy it more.”
Vander Wal’s talent didn’t take long to shine through, and by 14 years old, she had already grown to 6-foot-3. It was then she realized just how bright her future was after winning MVP honors at a club tournament.
“I think that’s where I was like, ‘Man, maybe I can do this. Let’s keep working hard, play for my team and see where this takes me,’” Vander Wal said.
One path Vander Wal’s elite talent has taken her down has been the opportunity to play for USA Volleyball. In 2023, Vander Wal helped Team USA’s U19 squad claim a gold medal in Croatia while also being named MVP of the world championship tournament.
“I’ve been so blessed by USA Volleyball with the chance to play international volleyball but also to create relationships with some of my best friends from around the country,” Vander Wal said. “It’s kind of indescribable, the feeling after winning it all. It’s a moment that I’ll never forget. Just the pride we had for each other and our team, it was just unbelievable.”
She also won a gold medal with USA Volleyball’s U21 team this past summer while playing alongside multiple collegiate players.
“It was definitely a little intimidating at first, but it was another amazing experience,” Vander Wal said. “Getting to play with the collegiate athletes was probably one of the coolest things because they brought so much insight and different skills.”
The experience the talented outside hitter has had with USA Volleyball has also sparked the thought of someday competing in the Olympics.
“It’s definitely somewhere in my mind to get there someday,” Vander Wal said. “It’s always been a dream of mine. I think it’s definitely a possibility.”
There was little doubt that Vander Wal would be a star at the high school level from day one as well, where she began as the only freshman on Timothy Christian School’s varsity roster.
“I was intimidated,” Vander Wal said. “But looking back at it now, I love those girls and we had an awesome season.”
The experience helped Vander Wal develop as a leader as her teams had strong seasons during her sophomore and junior years. However, the Trojans fell to IC Catholic in the sectional finals in both seasons.
Knowing they had greater potential, the premature postseason losses motivated Vander Wal and her team ahead of a special 2024 season.
“It kind of got us more fueled up for this year,” Vander Wal said. “This year has not been what I expected in a great way … This team has worked harder than any other team I’ve been on. We compete all the time during practice. Even the girls who aren’t starters work really hard to better us and it’s so important to the success of the team.”
Success and milestones filled Vander Wal’s senior season. After losing their first two matches, the Trojans won 38 in a row to reach the IHSA state tournament for the first time since 2015, finally getting past IC Catholic in the sectional finals.
While several team records were broken throughout the campaign, Vander Wal also reached some impressive individual milestones, including becoming the program’s all-time leader in kills with well over 1,300 in her career.
“Timothy means the world to me,” Vander Wal said. “I’ve gone there since I was in grade school so being able to do it at Timothy just means so much. As a team, I’m so proud of how we competed this year … I had never felt this confident before in my team.
“Everyone always talks about how their senior year is their best year and I really think that’s true.”
Vander Wal’s talent is undeniable, but some of her success can be credited to the motivation and support of her family. Both of Vander Wal’s parents are former college athletes, while her older brother, Ben, also plays college basketball at Furman.
“I’ve looked up to him so much my entire life,” Abby said. “We’ve always competed with each other and he’s taught me how hard work pays off … He’s willing to work hard because he loves the sport and that definitely had an impact on me and my work ethic.”
Meanwhile, Abby’s younger brother, Jake, also serves as an inspiration. Jake has Down syndrome and is non-verbal, but that hasn’t stopped him and Abby from forming a truly special bond.
“Jake is my best friend,” Abby said. “We have a special connection … He just means so much to me, especially when I see him at my games. He’s not a big fan of the loud environment, but he really just wants to be there for me. It makes my day.”
Abby aspires to be a speech and language pathologist thanks to Jake and also hopes to coach volleyball someday after perhaps playing professionally. But first, she knows she has business to take care of at Texas, and bringing another national championship to Austin is at the forefront as she arrives in January.
“Just to get our team to the highest spot we can go,” Abby said about her goals at Texas. “Keep working on our individual skills and working on our chemistry as a team. I think we’re all going to have similar mindsets going into games and the NCAA Tournament, just staying hungry.
“It would be awesome to get some awards, but winning conference and winning a national championship are definitely on my mind.”
