Making the most of a strange season

Voelker makes big statement in first season

Hailey Voelker was full of restless energy as she sat on the bench, eagerly awaiting to hear her name called.

She had waited months for this moment, and nothing, not even COVID-19, could stop her. All her hard work was about to pay off as she prepared to play in her first college basketball game for the Lake Superior State Lakers.

There were nerves, of course. She hadn’t played a competitive game since March of 2020. The WBCA All-Star game had been cancelled, and even her freshman season was up in the air because of concerns over the coronavirus.

Hailey had already been in quarantine once, and she, along with five of her teammates, were forced to miss the first games of the season. But what was a few more weeks compared to the months she had already waited?

“Obviously it was really hard waiting. We didn’t get to start like normal, and there were a lot of setbacks,” Hailey said. “I knew I’d get to play, I just had to keep working hard, keep improving and prove I belonged. But it was rough.”

When her moment did come, Voelker’s patience was soon rewarded. In a handful of games she proved not only did she belong at the next level, she could make an instant impact.

A long way from home

Dealing with COVID-19 and adjusting to the size and speed of college basketball weren’t the only hurdles Hailey faced in her first year at Lake Superior State.

She was living in a different state, going from Wisconsin to Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She had earned a scholarship to play for the Lakers, an NCAA D-II program in the GLIAC (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), but as a freshman, playing time was hardly guaranteed.

She was hoping the season would start on time, but the first games would not come until January. Even then, the seats were empty, and the gym silent.

But Voelker has always counted her blessings, and while an energetic crowd would have been nice, at least she didn’t have to wear a mask when playing.

“It was good to get back out on the court. It was a whole different experience playing college basketball, but it was super fun and it was a fun season. Plus, I didn’t have to play with a mask on.”

Then there were those adjustments that took place off the court. There were classes to attend, both in-person and virtual, and being in Michigan meant no cheese curds, no Kwik Trips, and a different culture, attitude and lingo.

“It was different being six, seven hours away from home. It was weird not seeing my parents after the games and stuff like that, but Michigan basketball is great. Michigan basketball is no joke. They take everything very serious up there.”

Thankfully, Voelker wasn’t the only player from Wisconsin. Her teammate Carson Nitz hailed from Beloit, and the two bonded over all things Wisconsin. But she has no regrets about leaving Wisconsin to play college basketball.

“The UP is very beautiful, and there’s a lot to do up there. I love it,” Hailey says. “My teammates really helped me adjust. If there was anything I needed they were there for me.”

Welcome to the big leagues

The biggest obstacle for Voelker wasn’t living in a land without decent cheese, but going from top high school player in a small town to just another fish in the NCAA’s massive pond.

“It was crazy going from playing in small-town Colby and playing Division four and five high schools, to now playing kids that could easily have gone D-I, or played for big D-I high schools,” Voelker recalls. “There wasn’t one single player that I looked at and was like ‘Wow, I can do something that they can’t.’ They were all amazing.”

Hailey discovered everyone was tall, fast and strong. Some were all-state selections, others the best player to come out of their respective high schools in years.

“It was very different. I was playing girls that were 22, 23 and I’m 19, so that was a big adjustment because they’re bigger and more experienced,” Voelker said. “They know the game, they’re smart and they know how to get in your head. It was definitely a learning experience.”

Drawing on the past

One thing that helped Voelker adjust was her time on the AAU circuit. She had played for a great program, the Wisconsin Playmakers, and for a great coach in Chris Becker.

AAU turned out to be an eye-opening experience for Voelker, where at 5’9”, she was one of the taller players on the floor during her high school career.

As a three sport athlete who had qualifi ed for the state meet in the triple jump and long jump, she was often more athletic and explosive than her competition.

On the AAU circuit Voelker discovered she was just one of many excellent athletes, andasshemadetheroundsthrough states like Texas, Tennessee, Georgia and Indiana, she went up against multiple future NCAA D-I players.

“You see girls that are going D-I, and they’re like 6’2” and dribbling and driving and making threes, and just able to do everything.”

But that time in AAU prepared her for the rigors of playing NCAA basketball. It also played a big part in helping her earn an athletic scholarship.

“It was tough basketball. It was really gritty, really aggressive, not a lot of fouls called. That really helped me get ready for college and got my name out.”

But if you really want to know about Hailey and the kind of player she is, you have to look at her time as a Hornet.

Colby comes with me

Voelker looks fondly on her career at Colby. She credits her time with the Hornet, and with former head coach Randy Rau, for shaping her into the player she is today.

From an early age, Voelker’s talent was apparent, and it didn’t take long before she was playing varsity. Hailey played on back to back conference championship teams as a sophomore and junior, and was a starter on the 2019 squad that made it to state for the first time.

Stepping into big roles at an early age was a foreshadowing of what would come in her college career.

“I played at state as a junior, and I had to step into a bigger role as a senior. It was a lot like this year, where I’m just a teenager, and I’ve started. So playing for Colby definitely helped me out.”

Hailey’s effort and hustle was on display every night during her time in green and gold, and those qualities made her stand out to Lakers head coach Brandon Lokken.

“Hailey has such a passion that she plays with. It was the first thing I noticed when recruiting her,” Lokken said via press release. “She brings such energy to the game and her team. When you combine that with her competitiveness and toughness you get a heck of a player.”

Her tenacious playing style isn’t the only thing she’s taken to the UP. The love and support from friends and family back home is with her every day.

“My support system here was amazing. I don’t think there was a single game where I didn’t get a text before a game from a friend or someone like Brittani Mertens or Ariel Oehmichen, telling me how proud they were of me.”

Get in rookie

Now that she was at the next level, Voelker quickly made the most of her shortened freshman campaign, playing in 13 of the Lakers 19 games.

“All the time I spent in middle school, high school and AAU playing basketball gave me the self-confidence and belief in myself,” Velker said. “It took more than just basketball skills to get there too. I had coaches and teammates telling me how much they believed in me, and that helped me get to where I wanted to be.”

Voelker’s first game proved a memorable one. She only played 13 minutes, but she scored four points, and those points were vital as the Lakers earned a 60-58 victory over Purdue Northwest at home.

Hailey earned 19 minutes in her next game, and just three games into her collegiate career, she made her first start.

“It was a lot of pressure obviously, getting my first start, but it was a great learning experience for me too.”

Voelker was nervous, but she had fun with it. More than anything, she was grateful her coaches and teammates had her back and believed in her.

“I was very thankful my coach trusted me enough with that and believed in me enough to start and to take that position as a freshman. A lot of other great girls on my team could have taken it, so I am very thankful that coach believed in me.”

Hailey would go on to start six more games. There likely would have been more starts, but towards midseason, Voelker broke her nose and received a concussion in practice.

“I had to sit out for a couple of games, and I had to continue the rest of the season with a face mask on. So that was tough, but I played through it, and was happy I could keep playing.”

What comes next?

It’s been a season of growth for the product from Colby. She’s become more vocal, learned to adapt to her now role, and has gotten her first taste of college action. She’s ready elevate her game to new levels in Year Two.

“I’m just really going to focus on the grind this offseason,” Hailey says about her future plans. “I found out what it was like, and what I need to work on and improve on. I’m going to work over this stuff this summer, get stronger, and just improve my IQ on the game.”

She also hopes to have a COVID-19 free season. Above all, she’s eager to storm the court with the teammates who have become a second family to her.

“I’ve met so many awesome people and made so many friends. My teammates are my sisters, they’re like my family. I love them to death. They make basketball and being up there easy. They welcomed me with open arms.”

Just as she did with Colby, Voelker wants to make her mark on the Laker’s program, and usher it into a new era. It’s a tough proposition for a team that finished 1-18 this season, but Voelker remembers her time with Colby, and the things she and her teammates accomplished there. “Everyone made the joke about Colby cheese,” Voelker said. “But I’m glad I can come back here and see the numbers and the titles on the banners.”

Those numbers remind Hailey of the odds she’s overcome, and the doubts she helped put to rest. Her time at Colby is over, but her legacy at Lake Superior State is only just beginning.

REPRESENTING COLBY -Hailey Voelker cuts by a cluster of Greenwood defenders during her senior year with Colby. Voelker scored over 1,000 points as a Hornet, and earned back to back Eastern Cloverbelt titles, and played in the state tournament. Voelker started seven games for the Lakers in 2021, and is hoping to take them to new heights next year.TP FILE PHOTO

HOT SHOT - Hailey Voelker pulls up for two during her freshman campaign Voelker’s season got off to a late start, but she made the most of her first year, playing 13 games.SUBMITTED PHOTO/LSSU ATHLETICS