Coincidence or Fate?
How Volleyball Can Change A Life By J1 Reporter Amelia Roth
Devoted, hardworking, returned home. She deand confident are words to cided to give Benedictine describe the commitment a chance and she and the and love of a sport that can coach kept in touch for a change one’s life forever. few weeks. Soon enough, 2014 Duchesne graduate Fulcher committed to play Elise Fulcher, was destined college ball at Benedictine to pursue a career in volCollege.“It truly was a God leyball, but she didn’t have moment,” Fulcher said. an outlook on that direction Beneuntil fate came knocking. dictine Fulcher grew up in Omaha was a surrounding herself in a perfect culture full of volleyball fit. She success. Playing for Duchenjoyed esne Academy as well as the smaller local club Premier Volleycampus ball, Fulcher committed and the her young teen years to this school’s sport. focus on Senior year came around God and and Fulcher was indeciher faith. sive on if she was going to However, freshman year of participate in that year’s college was a struggle. She club season. The day before battled with time managetryouts, she decided to ment and the stress of being play one last season, or so a student athlete. Failing she thought. As a senior, some classes and wanting Fulcher was receiving many to transfer as a freshman, college letters and going on she didn’t give up hope. visits. She visited BeneContinuing to work hard in dictine College, located in both school and volleyball, Atchison, Kansas, in 2013. Fulcher was so glad she Going mostly for academics didn’t give up. and not really thinking of “In hard times I stayed playing volleyball, her mom true to myself and trusted mentioned her daughter’s that everything happens for love and dedication of the a reason. I allowed myself sport to one of the tour to fail so I could learn from guides. it and do it right next time.” The tour guide then This was a moment where proceeded to ask Fulcher fate prevailed in Fulcher’s about her volleyball career life and she learned to beand asked her if she would lieve God’s plan was good. like to meet the head coach. Playing for about 10 After finishing the tour years, Fulcher’s body startand conversing with the ed to give up on her and coach for a while, Fulcher she constantly dealt with
injuries. As a middle hitter/ blocker she had to work through persistent knee issues, lots of shoulder pain, and even had to get ankle surgery. As her college senior year came around, she was in endless pain. She made the hard decision
be her fourth year coaching at Premier. “I love seeing people succeed, and sharing my love of the sport with so many people every day,” Fulcher said. “Building a relationship with the players and the coaches is very important to me. I love to see my girls develop not only as volleyball players, but as young, growing women.” Fulcher’s love of coaching opened yet another opportunity to influence a to pass up her last year of new group of girls. She was playing volleyball due to introduced to Coach Amy her injuries. “I couldn’t play McLeay through Sarah without being in extreme Hughbanks, who coached pain or constant rehab” Ful- with her at Premier and cher said. Although she was Coach McLeay at Marinot directly playing on the an. Soon enough, Fulcher team, she was asked to still started to help with the attend practices and games Marian volleyball program. and became an extra coach In 2021, Fulcher finished for Benedictine. her second year as assistant After graduating from varsity coach and third year college, Fulcher moved in the Marian volleyball back to Omaha where her program. whole family lives. Since Fulcher plays a very then, she has worked at crucial role to her club and her family business helphigh school teams. She ing with accounting, book holds this responsibility keeping, and inventory. In close to her heart because addition to working with you never know what her family, Fulcher fills the next day could bring. her competitive spirit and Trusting the process may be her love of volleyball by hard, but Fulcher has provcoaching at the same club en that everything happens she grew up playing for. for a reason and God’s plan This upcoming season will is good. 38
“Everything happens for a reason. Trust in God’s plan.”
