GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Get to know libero Jena Otec in the seventh edition of our “Offseason Conversation” series with the Grand Rapids Rise. Otec talks about her current role as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Western Kentucky women’s volleyball team, getting the opportunity to play professionally with the Rise, growing up in a sports family, and much more.
First off, welcome to the Grand Rapids Rise and thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to have this conversation. Let’s start with how things are going at Western Kentucky.
It’s going really well. This is my second season coaching for them. We are currently 10-0 in Conference USA and have won 13 matches in a row. So, we have kind of been rolling here for the past couple of weeks. We have a tough weekend ahead at UTEP and they’re probably the second-best team in our conference. So, that will be a challenge. We will also head back down there in a few weeks for the Conference USA Tournament.
What was the transition like going from playing in college at Purdue to coaching?
It was different. I missed the competition and competing aspect of playing. But I enjoy seeing the other side of things. As a player, I was a huge gym rat, so the training part was one of my favorite things. That’s part of the reason why I got into coaching. I also got into coaching because I wanted to grow and learn the game from different perspectives. I have been very fortunate to learn from Travis Hudson, who has been the head coach here at Western Kentucky for the past 30 years. My first couple of weeks here, I think I learned more about offense than I had in my entire life. Even in passing and defense, I feel like I have learned more, and that’s my position. So, that’s been pretty cool and unique about my current situation.
How difficult do you think it’s going to be switching gears again and going from coaching to playing professionally for the first time in your career?
I think it will take a small adjustment period. But there has never been a time where I stopped playing or haven’t touched a volleyball since I left Purdue. I have played in some different leagues and tournaments, whether it’s indoors, grass, sand, or all the above. I’ve been playing with my team at Western Kentucky or previously at Eastern Michigan. Playing is something I have also been passionate about, so I wanted to keep my game up and going. But I haven’t played in a 6v6 competitive league since Purdue. That’s why I think there will be an adjustment period, but I’ll be ready to compete on Day 1.
Did you pursue playing professionally before you decided to get into coaching?
Yes, I did. I finished up at Purdue in the fall of 2021 and I was in a weird place. There wasn’t a league in the United States yet besides Athletes Unlimited. It was right after COVID-19, so I wasn’t sure about going to play overseas, and I knew there weren’t a lot of opportunities for liberos to play overseas as well. So, I was going back and forth a little bit. Either way, I knew I eventually wanted to get into college coaching. Then, an opportunity presented itself at Eastern Michigan — one of the assistant coaches there was a volunteer at Purdue. That felt like my sign to get into coaching.
Talk me through the process of how you ended up signing with the Rise.
I knew of [Rise head coach] Cathy George since she coached at Michigan State, and I played at Purdue. I have also respected her and her program at MSU. It was kind of ironic that I was down in Tampa, Florida, for the AVCA coaches’ convention last December. I ended up at a PVF event because I had some Purdue teammates and coaching friends that were there. I ran into Cathy there and I re-introduced myself and got into a conversation about volleyball, the PVF, and my coaching. She said she had a lot of respect for me as a volleyball player and as a competitor. She asked me then if I would be interested in getting back into it and I said something like, ‘I think I would be.’ But obviously, they were just getting ready to start the season with it being December. So, [it was] ‘maybe next year if you’re in need of a libero.’
I followed the PVF through its inaugural season and watched Grand Rapids get to the final. Shortly after, Cathy reached out and asked if I would be interested. I had a lot of conversations between myself and Cathy, and myself and head coach Travis Hudson. I told Cathy, ‘I want to do this, but I also know that coaching is another passion of mine.’ I can coach when I’m 50 or 60 years old. I don’t think I can play professional volleyball when I’m 50 or 60.
Thoughts on getting to team up with former Western Kentucky standout Paige Briggs-Romine again?
Very excited to play with Paige. I coached her for a season here and it was just a joy to get in the gym with somebody who wanted to get better every single day. Getting to watch her lead this team last year to the second round of the NCAA Tournament was super cool. She had an amazing season last year with the Omaha Supernovas and won the championship. Going into this year, I had my conversations with Cathy but didn’t exactly know what Paige was doing yet. Finally, since Travis was in conversations with Paige too, he gave me the heads up that Paige was probably signing with the Rise as well.
Paige and I had already signed up to play in a grass tournament together over the summer, and I found out a week or so before this tournament. So, I called her up to talk about the tournament and then I was like, ‘So, hey, not only do I want to be your teammate for Marshall Madness, but I need to be your teammate for a little bit longer, so I just signed with the Rise.’ She was like, ‘What?! What are you talking about?’ So, I told her I was playing professional volleyball with her in Grand Rapids. It was a surreal moment between the two of us.
What can Rise fans expect when they see Jena Otec on the court?
A competitor. I’m going to work really, really hard, and I have a winning mentality. I’m somebody who hates to lose, so I’m going to go out there and compete to my best for my teammates, coaches, and for the Rise fans. Not only will you see a competitor, but you’ll see a great teammate too. I’m just as thrilled, if not more so, when they succeed. Also, having coached for a few years, hopefully you will see that I have a great dynamic between myself and my teammates by knowing how to talk with them, treat them, and all that good stuff.
Growing up, you started playing volleyball as a middle blocker and setter, then transitioned to outside hitter at 14 years old before becoming a defensive specialist/libero at Purdue. That’s quite the journey. What advice would you give younger athletes on switching positions?
I would say, be open to change and trying new things. I was a middle and setter because I was tall for my age. When I changed to the outside in high school and club, it was because of my coaches. And then, getting into the recruiting process, I was told that I was too short to be an outside hitter, and I would need to transition to a defensive specialist/libero role when I got to college. So, I would advise younger athletes to learn all aspects of the game and not just focus on setting, or passing, or serving, or whatever the case may be. Being an all-around volleyball player has a lot of value to it. I think it makes me unique as a player. It’s not just the skill aspect of knowing all the positions, but the mental part of it as well. As a DS/libero, I feel like I better understand what will be coming over the net to me because I have played those attacking positions and have that attacking mindset. That has helped my game immensely.
What was it like growing up with four siblings, all of whom ended up playing collegiate sports?
Chaotic. We were always a very active family. My mom is also a personal trainer, and my dad is a former college soccer player. From a very young age, I saw my brothers playing sports and working out. My preseason was in my mom’s gym. I was always around fitness and athletics. I was into dancing and soccer when I was little and started playing volleyball when I was in the third grade. I also did softball and basketball and was just integrated into sports at a very young age.
Having three older brothers brought the competitiveness out of me. I also felt like I was trying to one-up them and be like them, whether that was playing sports or doing a competition to see who had to do the dishes. There was always this competitive dynamic between all of us. But we all got along because we shared similar passions.
Now, two of my brothers are soccer coaches and we almost have the same brain in a sense, and we get along well because we were athletes who became coaches. We sometimes bounce ideas off each other and help each other in our careers. I’m very thankful that I had a family that was super close and very supportive of my goals and dreams.
Lastly, in your opinion, what’s the most satisfying way to win a match point?
Oh goodness. For me, selfishly as a libero, I think it would be if I got a good dig or nice up, and our hitter put the ball away. That would probably be the best match point. But something that also comes to mind is a monster block that just goes straight down. I would have to pick between those two because, again, celebrating with your teammates is just as fun, if not more satisfying, than doing something well yourself.
Photo by Purdue Athletics