Falcon Spotlight

Jean Theis

Jean Theis is a senior middle-hitter on the River Falls volleyball team. In her first three seasons as a Falcon she had 862 total kills, and she already has 127 kills in just 13 matches this season.

“We work everyday in practice on hitting and blocking,” Theis said. “My ability of not giving up and playing through the match no matter what happens is one of my strengths. I try not to get too down on myself.”

This combination of practice and perseverance is undoubtedly what makes the senior so successful at the net.

Last weekend the UWRF volleyball team played in a tournament at Gustavus Adolphus College. The Falcons defeated Central College in three games, but they fell to Simpson College, Augsburg College and Gustavus Adolphus College.

“In all the matches we lost last weekend, we put up a good fight. We always gave it 100 percent, and nobody was giving up early. We stayed together and stayed positive,” Theis said.

This sense of togetherness is especially critical for the team because they are young and developing. “There are only two seniors and one junior, so we are a very young team. We have 10 new players with only 18 girls, but I find it to be a strength,” Theis said. “A lot of the girls don’t have any expectations, and as a senior it helps to have a group like that because they give 100 percent at every practice.”

Theis is prepared to use what she has learned throughout the past three seasons to strive for success this season. “I’ve learned to play every game with confidence and to face every opponent the same way. If we play our game, there is no reason the outcome should be any different,” said Theis.