Jordan Drezet hasn't just changed her address, she's changed her time zone.
Drezet, who grew up in Prince George, is living about 8,000 kilometres away, in Straubing, Germany. There, the 24-year-old is playing her first season of professional volleyball and enjoying every second of it.
After a successful post-secondary career with the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves, Drezet is now a member of Straubing NawaRo, one of the top teams in 2.Bundesliga, which is Germany's second-tier division. She's a setter for NawaRo and, in a supporting role, has been making a smooth transition to the pro level.
"I am learning new things every week," Drezet told The Citizen via email. "I am not only learning from my coaches but also my teammates. I would have to say I am growing not only in skill but also as a teammate, and as a person. I am coming out of my shell day by day and becoming more confident as my time goes on in Germany."
Drezet said she "absolutely" loves playing for NawaRo, whose home city is in southern Germany on the Danube River. Currently, NawaRo is in third place in its 11-team division with a match record of 8-4.
Drezet, a 2010 graduate of Prince George secondary school, connected with NawaRo late last summer when she went to Maribor, Slovenia, on an "exposure tour" held by an agency called Bring It Promotions. While in Maribor, she trained with 30 to 40 other players for a couple days and then coaches and club managers from various European pro teams arrived to scout talent. Drezet was quickly informed of NawaRo's interest in her and was told she'd be going to Germany with the team's head coach, Andreas Urmann.
NawaRo's season began on Sept. 17 and runs until late April. There are three Americans on the team but Drezet is the only Canadian. During matches, she usually comes off the bench when NawaRo's main setter - who has years of experience as a professional - needs a break or when Urmann wants to tweak his lineup.
"When I get my time on the court, I definitely don't take it for granted," said Drezet, who got started in volleyball in her later years of elementary school. Her parents, Dan and Kim, have a long history in the sport, and Dan is president of the Prince George Youth Volleyball Club.
Drezet, part of a Grande Prairie team that won silver at the 2014 college nationals, said 2.Bundesliga is "very competitive." Close matches are the norm and the excitement level is high, especially when she and her teammates are playing at home in front of their large fan base.
"Our home crowd is the best one I have seen so far over here in Germany," Drezet said. "I wouldn't trade it for the world. We have such an amazing staff and they do a great job making our home games the best.
"Playing for our fans is something I will never forget, that's for sure."
Winning at home, Drezet added, has provided her with her highlight moments.
"It gives you a sense of pride you can't really describe," she said. "When your home fans are on their feet showing their support, you really are just so proud of where you are."
Away from their home base, Drezet and NawaRo play in places like Munich, Stuttgart, Offenburg, Vilsbiburg, Sonthofen and Neuwied. Drezet said there's not much chance for sightseeing because the team arrives at its destination on game day, heads straight to the match, and leaves directly after.
"We don't see much while we are there but we are there to play so that's not an issue," she said.
Drezet wasn't able to provide details about some of the other perks of being a pro player. Like, does she get paid to play? Is she provided with a place to live and a car?
"All I can say in regards to that is we are very lucky to play for NawaRo, I can't say much else."
Drezet said she's been forming what she hopes will be long-lasting relationships with her teammates and would love to play for coach Urmann and NawaRo again next season. Looking farther down the road, she'd like to continue her involvement in the sport.
"Eventually I would like to coach volleyball at some level," said Drezet, who earned a bachelor of education degree through a GPRC/University of Alberta collaborative program. "As I get older I would love to coach college, but that is far in the future."
Even though Drezet is all those kilometres away from her family, she still keeps tabs on her younger sister, Hallie, who is also breaking new ground in volleyball this season. Hallie is a rookie with the Kamloops-based Thompson Rivers University WolfPack, which competes in the Canada West conference of U Sports, the highest post-secondary league in the country. She's a defensive specialist for the WolfPack and, this past summer, was part of Canada's junior national team program.
"I am incredibly proud of her and I love seeing her succeed," Drezet said.
"I have seen her grow up and develop as a player and I have no doubt in my mind that she will continue to grow and be successful both at TRU and if she chooses to further her volleyball career. I am definitely her No. 1 fan, and that's an understatement."
