With a carefree smile, Claire Chaussee looks forward to making her mark with the Rise in the new Pro Volleyball Federation.
Story by Mark Newman
Claire Chaussee remembers when she first heard that there were plans for a new professional women's volleyball league in the United States.
"My first thought was, 'I wonder who's going to join?' And then I was like, 'Wait, I'm going to join.'
"It was exciting to know there was the possibility of playing in the U.S. for a pro season in a real league that will continue, hopefully, for many years to come. I think that is amazing and unbelievable, and I never thought that would ever be an opportunity, for me at least."
Chaussee (pronounced shaw-SAY), the 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year, was beginning her pro career in Europe after helping the Louisville Cardinals reach the NCAA championship game. When the Grand Rapids Rise became the first team announced for the new league, the Wisconsin native became more than intrigued.
"And then out of the blue, it happens, and I'm over in Italy and I'm like, sign me up."
For Chaussee, playing for the Rise in the new Pro Volleyball Federation was not only an opportunity to be part of history but also a chance to play closer to home.
Chaussee grew up in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, a working-class suburb of Madison, home of the University of Wisconsin, where her father runs an automotive repair shop not far from the high school.
She was heavily influenced by her sister, Emily, who was four years older.
"I give her most of the credit for where I am today," she said, noting that she followed in her sister’s footsteps, from wearing her clothes to her jersey number. "We would hit the ball against the garage or play on the little volleyball court and net that our dad set up for us. She wouldn't take it easy on me and I am very grateful for that."
Chaussee tried playing other sports such as soccer and basketball but gravitated to volleyball because she felt it was the one that she could excel at; and that, indeed, is what she did during her teenage years.
A four-time First Team All-Conference performer, Chaussee earned honorable mention All-State honors as a freshman and was Third Team All-State as a sophomore before earning First Team All-State kudos as both a junior and senior.
A college scholarship eventually seemed inevitable.
"I think I always wanted to play in college, so I knew it could be a possibility," she said. "I started getting offers from smaller D1 schools when I was 15 or 16 and that's when I thought, 'Oh my goodness, I really could have a shot,' but I wasn't sure where I would end up."
Her first choice, however, was not interested.
"Going to Wisconsin was a dream of mine, but I wasn't what they were looking for at the time," she said. "I'm very grateful that was the case.”
Fortunately for Chaussee, she caught the attention of Anne Kordes, then the head coach at Louisville, during a Great Lakes tournament.
"Within two or three weeks, I was on campus and she offered me," she said. "She had only seen me play once, maybe twice at that point, but she gave me time to think about it. At the time I was talking to another school and they were rushing me. They were like, 'You have five to seven days to give us an answer, otherwise it's going to the next girl.'
"So for that and other reasons – smaller school, great people, great coaches – I knew Louisville was more of what I wanted."
Kordes would eventually resign to spend more time with her family, opening the door for current head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. In the meantime, Chaussee would require surgery for an ankle injury.
"Dani didn't get to see me play all that much, but she had faith in me and still gave me my scholarship," Chaussee said.
That faith would be rewarded later, but not before some misplaced misgivings on the part of one young volleyball player.
Chaussee had a tough freshman year, even thinking about quitting at one point.
"Going in was hard, but also being away from home among other things, I just was like, 'Maybe this isn't for me. Maybe I made a mistake. I don't know.’ But Dani, my parents, and my sister – and really all my teammates – pushed me to stay.
"I think just everything piled on top of each other, so it just got worse. I wasn't sure about what I wanted to do for school, or what to study, so that was stressful. I kind of fell into a little dark space. I never wanted to hang out with anyone, so that was rough.
"Fortunately, I was blessed with great teammates who would drag me along to whatever they were doing, and it ended up being super fun. I was really happy and grateful for them.
"By the end of spring – really by the end of summer – I was like, I'm so happy and grateful that you guys pushed me to stay because I think I would have made the worst decision on the planet if I had left."
She found a confidant in teammate Tori Dilfer, who had recently transferred to Louisville from Texas Christian University. Dilfer, daughter of Super Bowl XXXV Champion quarterback Trent Dilfer, provided emotional support at a critical time in her life.
"We would go on long car rides and just talk, because I think that was her way of just allowing me to share my feelings about everything, so I could get it out, and her as well because she had just transferred to Louisville," Chaussee said.
"I asked her one day in the car, 'Can you be my mentor for all of this?' I had no idea what I was stepping into because I grew up Catholic, but this was way different. That spring semester is when I dove into my faith a little bit more, and I think that helped me out the most, actually."
Like most elite collegiate athletes, Chaussee had to face reality first before she would find success.
"Anyone going into college at a high level probably was one of the best players on their team in high school or club," she said. "It's a harder transition, because you think at the time, ‘Oh, I'm good,' but you're going up against other girls who are just as good or better – nine out of 10 times better."
She knew she had to re-dedicate herself if she was going to excel at the college level.
"I think being challenged and being benched put a fire under my butt, as it would anyone, because nobody wants to sit on the bench," she said. "I started going in for extra reps, staying after practice, really taking the time to learn from the players who were playing over me. What are they doing? Once again, I had great teammates in the same position, but who were willing to help me."
Chaussee would eventually help lead Louisville to back-to-back appearances in the Final Four. As a senior, the 2021 Cardinals lost in the semifinals to eventual NCAA champion Wisconsin – a missed opportunity to exact revenge, as Louisville was edged in five sets – but it was an unforgettable experience nonetheless.
"It was like, ‘Wow, we're here,’" said Chaussee, who still feels goosebumps at the memory. "Before the game, Dani told us that it's gonna be packed, there's going be a lot of people, so just look around, take the time to appreciate everyone who's there, because you may never get this moment again."
But Louisville indeed returned. Chaussee opted to use the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this time her team made it to the championship, losing to the University of Texas.
Honored as the ACC Player of the Year, Chaussee was also named an AVCA First Team All-American as well as a Final Four All-Tournament selection.
"Those are great honors, but I also don't think it was just me," she said. "I had all the other girls and the coaches behind me, and without them pushing me every day in practice, I would have never been able to accomplish those things.
"I couldn't have imagined a better five years at Louisville."
Turning pro after college, Chaussee looked at various options – Germany, France and Greece were potential stops – but ultimately chose Italy.
"My agent said that Italy will push you and challenge you because it's one of the best leagues, if not the best, in the world, and you're gonna be going up against some of the best players in the world," she said.
"I wanted to be challenged and pushed right away. And in the end, I think it was probably the hardest route I could have chosen."
Chaussee played for a team in Macerata, a small town in central Italy. "I learned a lot about myself, just living alone, which is something I'd never done before," she said. "It was a smaller town, so I didn't have anyone to hang out with because my teammates were living outside the city. Not knowing any Italian, it was hard but it was a lot of fun."
She is thankful that one of her teammates in Italy was Symone Abbott, who is now one of her teammates in Grand Rapids. "She had already been there for five months, so she helped me a lot," Chaussee said.
While she could have returned for a second season in Italy, Chaussee was beyond thrilled that she was going to be able to play professional volleyball in the Midwest.
"Even though playing overseas can be fun, I think being able to do what you love in your country – or even your hometown as some girls are doing – is just amazing and unbelievable," she said. "I think being closer to home is what's best for me."
She is finding motivation in the possibility of being a pioneer of the sport in the U.S.
"I want to help this league grow," she said. "I want other girls, younger girls, to have this opportunity when they grow up. Being able to have this opportunity in the U.S. is insane."
Although she is serious and committed to pushing herself to reach new heights, Chaussee is also intent on enjoying herself.
“The best job to have is one that's fun and one that you enjoy," she said. "I think now – transitioning into pro – keeping the game fun is important to me. There's a sense of responsibility, but I still want to allow myself to laugh and bring out my goofy side a little bit.
"I find it really fun and I've always found it enjoyable. We don't have to stress about it. Let's have fun."