Tiffany Vander Meer

Athletic Career

Tiffany grew up in Northeastern Oregon and was introduced to volleyball when she was 10 years old.  Always tall for her age, and reaching peak height at 6’1” as a freshman, Tiffany often struggled to compose her gangly limbs into the coordinated athletic movements that volleyball required.  This was not a sport that came naturally to her, but she had fun playing the game and enjoyed the challenge.  By the end of her high school career she’d earned two Varsity letters as a starting middle blocker, led her team to the OSAA 4A Volleyball State Championship Tournament (2011), & was nominated to compete for the USA at an international tournament event with DownUnder Sports in Brisbane, Australia (2011).

After high school, Tiffany secured a full academic scholarship to George Fox University (Newberg, OR) and resumed her role as a full-time starting middle blocker (2011-2014).  She set university records with 291 Career Blocks - first in program history during the rally scoring era with sets to 25 points and is sixth overall (*includes all athletes that participated under multiple collegiate governing bodies & scoring eras).  Tiffany was also recruited for GFU’s Track & Field program and participated in multiple varsity events (high jump, triple jump, & long jump) from 2013-2014.  Continuing her streak of academic excellence, Tiffany made the Dean’s List all four years of college and graduated magna cum laude in 2015.

A couple years later, Tiffany started dipping her toes in the sand and fell in love with volleyball all over again.  Excited by a new challenge, she moved to Southern California to pursue her dream of playing beach volleyball at the professional level.  In the span of three years, she participated in AVP Tournaments/Qualifiers across the nation and was handpicked to train under Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh-Jenning’s p1440 Professional Development Program (2018-2020).

Coaching Expertise

Tiffany loves helping athletes understand the “why” behind their actions.  When players understand the “why,” they are more likely to buy-in and commit fully to the process of gradual improvement.  

Her first experience with coaching came in high school and college; she and her teammates would run young children through summer camps to raise money for their upcoming volleyball seasons.  Throughout and beyond college though, she assumed multiple coaching positions with various organizations:

• Head Coach - Willamette Valley Volleyball Club, 16 Silver, Oregon (2012-2013)

• Head Coach - Guy Enriques Team Volleyball Camp, Oregon (2014-2015)

• Assistant Coach - T.E.A.M. Hiki No Volleyball, Oregon (2015-2016)

• Volunteer Assistant Coach - Lewisburg High School, Mississippi (2016-2017)

Tiffany took a three-year hiatus from coaching to pursue her own professional beach volleyball aspirations.  At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Tiffany and her husband (Doc) traded one beach for another, moving from Southern California to the Midwest and settling in Grand Haven, Michigan.  A few months later, Tiffany was hired on as the Assistant Coach for Davenport University’s Men’s Club Volleyball Team (2020-2021).  She relinquished her role after one season to partner with Doc in founding Vitae Volleyball!

Awards & Distinctions

Awards

BAA Athlete of the Week Award [Volleyball] (2011, 2012) 

GFU Volleyball “Most Improved Player” Award (2011)

Recognition

Dean’s List (2011-2015)

Capital One / CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII Women’s Volleyball First Team for NCAA Division III (2013)

All-Northwest Conference Women’s Volleyball Second Team (2012, 2013)

Northwest Conference Student Athlete of the Week (2012)

Northwest Conference Honorable Mention Student Athlete of the Week (2011)