Episode Summary:
In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of Outside the Pins, senior volleyball player Joslyn (Joey) Wolf shares her journey through four years at UW-Oshkosh—from uncertain beginnings to empowered endings. With graduation approaching, Joey reflects on the challenges she’s overcome, the relationships that shaped her, and the joy she found in authenticity, vulnerability, and late-night laughter with teammates. From dealing with academic pressure and personal loss to discovering how to lead with compassion, Joey’s story reminds us all that struggle and strength are deeply connected.

Key Topics:

🧬 Academic Grit: Joey talks through her double major and double minor in Biomedical Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, and Medical Laboratory Science, along with her hands-on phlebotomy work and the passion that drives her toward a behind-the-scenes medical career.

🏐 Volleyball and Vulnerability: From feeling like a small fish in a big pond to embracing her role on the team, Joey shares her emotional evolution—especially how finding connection and support helped her thrive on and off the court.

💎 Joey’s Gems:
Moments of growth that shaped her experience—including the lesson that “if you’re the first to be vulnerable, it’ll domino,” the importance of taking up space, and why time between the big events matters most.

💔 Adversity and Resilience: From migraines and the loss of her grandmother to wrestling with doubts about her major and role on the team, Joey opens up about how struggle forged strength—and how faith, friendship, and her support system carried her through.

🌊 Leadership Through Presence: The late-career switch from “angry Joey” to joyful, competitive confidence came from one teammate’s belief—and the decision to fight for her team from a place of freedom instead of frustration.

🎨 Making Time Count: Whether watercolor painting with her roommate, hanging out in the kitchen, or climbing rocks at Pikes Peak, Joey emphasizes the power of presence and savoring small moments.

Final Takeaway:
“Life is about making heaven crowded and being extremely grateful and content with what you have and who you have in your life.”