Leigh Jespersen's first day of preseason at Lubbock Christian University landed on her 21st birthday — a perfect collision of new beginnings and familiar joy. "Joyful. That's truly the best way to describe it," she said. "Getting to do what I love to do on the day where everyone who loves me makes me feel loved. How much better can it get?"
From the moment she walked into the locker room, her new teammates and coaches made her feel at home. "Everyone told me happy birthday," Jespersen said. "Coach Neal even had it written on the whiteboard. Everyone sang before practice started. I got hugs all day long, and we got to be competitive on the court. It was surreal and encouraging to know that this is where I belong."
For Jespersen, volleyball and her birthday have always been linked. "Every year since my freshman year of high school I've had a game, scrimmage, practice, or workout on my birthday," she said. "It's truly such a blessing to keep doing what I love. The Lord has allowed me to use this sport to confide in Him and to learn to pour into others. Volleyball is the biggest part of my testimony — not because of the sport alone, but because of what He's taught me through it."
A Team That Feels Like Home
As the only transfer on the roster, Jespersen expected some nerves. Instead, she found instant acceptance. "There hasn't been one time where I've questioned if anyone wants me here," she said. "From day one everyone opened their arms and welcomed me like I've been here from the start."
The team's culture stood out immediately. "Everybody is everybody's biggest cheerleader," Jespersen said. "You can't really see that on film — the way everyone genuinely cares about each other. This team is truly special. They take care of the little things that are so important."
She quickly connected with several teammates, especially
Hope Gonsioroski. "She immediately made me feel seen and welcomed," Jespersen said. "She's prayed with me and encouraged me to just go be myself. She's one of those people who make you feel like you belong without even trying."
Jespersen wants to bring her own energy and joy to the group. "I hope to bring an energy and a joy that makes everyone around me feel supported," she said. "I have a loud personality and I love being enthusiastic and encouraging. More than anything, I want my teammates to know I genuinely care about their success and want the absolute best for them."
A New Chapter, A New Leader
Jespersen arrived at LCU after earning First Team All-ASC honors at Hardin-Simmons, where she spent two seasons following an initial transfer earlier in her career. Leaving HSU wasn't easy. "It was one of the hardest, if not the hardest decision I've had to make," she said. "HSU was the most healing and refreshing place I could have gone after my first year. I met great friends and truly learned to lean on the Lord there. I'm leaving with a lot more confidence in who I am through the Lord, what I bring to a team, and the kind of person and teammate I want to be."
But she felt called to something new. "LCU felt like the right move because I felt like God was calling me here for a reason," Jespersen said. "I wanted to continue growing as a player, but I also wanted to be somewhere that challenged me to grow as a person and in my faith. From the beginning, I felt so welcomed and genuinely wanted here. The biggest thing for me was that LCU felt like a place where my faith could be a genuine part of who I am as an athlete."
Her first conversation with head coach Tyler Neal and assistant coach Levi Savage sealed it. "They made sure I knew they wanted to invest in me," Jespersen said. "They genuinely cared about me as a person. I felt like they saw the player and person I could become, and that's the type of environment I wanted to be in."
Neal, who was leading his own first practice as LCU's head coach, felt the same connection. "From the first phone conversation, she was very confident and outgoing," Neal said. "She has a fun-loving attitude and a strong faith in Jesus. Those are the athletes we're looking for at LCU — athletes who love volleyball and love Jesus and want to use their gifts to glorify the Lord and love their teammates really well."
Neal was impressed by Jespersen's versatility and poise. "Her all-around game stood out — attacking, blocking, passing, defense, serving," he said. "She didn't get too high or too low, played with joy and fun, and had a really positive spirit. There was a moment in practice where one of our players served an incredibly tough ball, and Leigh handled it like it was no big deal. That ability to pass as well as hit is exactly what we need."
For Jespersen, Neal's leadership was evident from the start. "He's very genuine and easy to talk to," she said. "He has a calmness about him, but at the same time a lot of confidence. I really appreciate the way he listens. He already has such a natural way of leading and connecting with us that it didn't feel like we were watching someone experience their first practice as a head coach."
Neal's message resonated. "He told us there are no little things," Jespersen said. "Everything we do matters — even the things that seem insignificant. Whether it's a small detail, how you respond, or how you encourage your teammates, all of it adds up. I really liked that."
Faith at the Center
Jespersen began her birthday early to center herself. "I woke up at 6 a.m. because I wanted to start my birthday by reading my Bible and drinking my coffee before everything kicked in," she said. "It was special to have that quiet time to slow down, thank the Lord for another year of life, and reflect on all He's blessed me with."
That mindset carried into practice. "Coach Neal reminded us that we get to be here," Jespersen said. "God has given us this ability to play volleyball for Him, so why not do it and have fun? Volleyball isn't who we are — it's what we do, and we get to do it to glorify and honor Him."
The competitive energy only brought the team closer. "Everyone was competing hard, but there was still so much encouragement and energy," Jespersen said. "No one was afraid to push each other or hold each other accountable, but not once did it become personal. It was a blast. It made me realize that this is a group that really cares about getting better."
By the end of the day, Jespersen felt a deep sense of peace. "I know and I'm confident that I didn't get here myself," she said. "The Lord has guided me and directed each step leading up to this point. Being here has reminded me to trust Him always because although I didn't know what was happening before, I do now and it's such a blessing. I feel at peace, and I know that in Him all things hold together."
