Tessa started her athletic career as a gymnast, before transitioning to volleyball at age 11 with VC Sneek. After five years, she moved to VC Bolsward in 2020 to compete at a higher level and train more frequently. 

During the 2021–2022 season, she switched from setter to middle blocker, while also gaining experience as an outside hitter. In 2022, she was scouted by VC058 and invited to join their first women’s team as a middle. She still plays for VC058 in the Dutch Second Division.

Tessa was also selected for several volleyball academies and training programs in different regions, to train with other talented players. Beyond indoor, she is an accomplished beach volleyball player, with several tournament victories. She has trained with Beach Team Nederland in 2023. In the same year, she won the U19 category Indoor at the United World Games in Klagenfurt in 2023. 

As a player, Tessa combines athleticism from her gymnastics background with strong volleyball technique, speed, and quick reactions. She has excellent game sense, reading opponents well and finding open spaces on the court. Coaches describe her as hardworking, eager to learn, and versatile, having competed successfully in multiple positions. She remains calm under pressure while bringing drive and determination to her team.

Tessa is currently focused on improving her aggressiveness while blocking, to maximize her impact at the net.

Academically, Tessa graduated from high school at the HAVO level in June 2022 and is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. She expect to earn her bachelor degree in June 2026. She plans to continue her academic journey with a master’s degree in the field of Health or Sports Management. She will have two years of athletic eligibility remaining when she joins college in the U.S.

For more information about Tessa de Vries, please contact our volleyball specialist, Ron Zwerver, at ron@slamstox.com