Gillette Brings in International Student: Zoe Van Waaijen
GILLETTE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS
August 3rd, 2023
Julia Machin | Head Women's Volleyball Coach
Zoe Van Waaijen is a 5'10 Right Side/Outside Hitter joining us all the way from Jisp, Netherlands. Waiijen is a left-handed powerhouse on the right side and has many years of volleyball experience on her resume. The first volleyball club Zoe was a member of was Clam Dycke, which is a local club that she began playing for at a young age. Around 2 years ago, Zoe moved to Volleyball Club Compaen, a highly competitive and well-established club in the Netherlands. During her last season, Waaijen was a key player for the second women's team at Club Compaen as they competed in the promotion league. This past season was the first time the members of Zoe's team had all played together, so they started off the season still navigating how to best utilize one another on the court. But, to no surprise, they became a tight knit and successful group in Promotion Class A by the end of the season. In addition to playing on the second women's team for Compaen, Zoe has also had experience playing on Compaen's first women's team where they competed in the second division.
Zoe Van Waaijen is not only continuing her excellent volleyball career while at Gillette, but she will also be pursuing a degree in Elementary Education! The Netherlands native is joining us from St. Michael's College where she completed her senior year at the HAVO level, which is the Netherland's second highest level of high school. When we asked Zoe about her decision to come to Gillette College this fall, she responded "I chose Gillette college because I instantly clicked with Coach Julia Machin! The school looks very nice, plus they have my chosen program for my degree and the volleyball team is going to compete at a good level (NJCAA Division 1). I also liked that there is going to be a new team with girls that are my age, I am very excited to meet them all!"
