Name: Daphne Posthumus
Born: Nov. 17, 2006
Sports: Women’s Volleyball
University: Western New Mexico University
Placed: Fall 2025
Background in the Netherlands
Daphne started playing volleyball at a young age at Volta. Her talent was quickly noticed and she always played in the highest youth teams of her age category. In 2023 she made the move to PDK Huizen, where she further developed as a player. There, she got the chance to play for the first women’s team at the First Division level, a nice step for a young player.
In addition to her sports career, Daphne also completed her VWO education in the Netherlands. Yet the idea began to grow to combine her sport and studies at a higher level. The United States turned out to be the perfect place for that.
Goals: combine study and top sport
Daphne had clear goals when she started her path to America. She wanted to earn a sports scholarship, play volleyball at a high level and study at the same time. Gaining international experience was also an important motivation. The college system in America offered exactly the combination of top sport, study and personal development she was looking for.
Challenges during the process
The journey toward America also brought challenges. For example, in the beginning there was uncertainty about scholarships and which universities would suit her best. In addition, time pressure played a role and a choice had to be made between different options.
By keeping in close contact with coaches and universities, it eventually became clear which place best suited her athletic and academic ambitions.
During the process, Slamstox played an important role in coaching. There was a lot of contact with coaches from different universities to find the best options, especially with regard to playing time and development. In addition, Slamstox helped with the entire process: from education and making a promotional video to making contacts, advice on the final choice and guidance in contract negotiations.
The move to America
Daphne eventually left for Western New Mexico University to play college volleyball. The transition to the American system went smoothly. Although everything obviously took some getting used to at first, she soon felt at home on the team and at the university.
She really liked the first few months in America. The university offers a professional environment in which sports and studies are taken seriously, while at the same time it is a close and friendly community.
Strong start in her first season
In her first season, Daphne made an immediate impression. She got a lot of playing time and achieved great athletic results with her team. For example, she was selected for her league’s All-Freshman Team and was named Player of the Week several times. These accomplishments show that she quickly adapted to the level of college volleyball.
The final result
The program resulted in a full scholarship at Western New Mexico University. With this, Daphne found exactly what she was looking for: the perfect combination of study and top sport, lots of playing minutes and the chance to further develop as a player and student.
According to her parents, the move to America turned out to be a great experience:
“Our daughter is now in the third month of her first college volleyball year at Western New Mexico University. A small but very nice university that treats sports and their athletes very professionally. The first tournaments are over and she is having a great time. Slamstox did an excellent job of supporting the process of getting there, from providing clear information and making a promotional video to making contacts, advising on selection and assisting with contract negotiations.”
Wil jij net als Daphne sporten en studeren in Amerika? Plan dan nu een kennismakingsgesprek in!
