The Illinois native Vanessa Mleczko, has been crucial to the women's volleyball team and the track and field teams where she competes as a sprinter. Her versatility has helped the team tremendously. Mleczko has recorded a total of 172 kills (K) defensively and 238 digs offensively. Her 47 service aces (SA) are eye-catching, making her a threat for opposing teams. The junior has averaged 2.80 digs per set (D/S) making her consistent in the back and a vital part of the team. Studying interior architecture, Vanessa has found her place at Chatham alongside her teammates.

Read more on Vanessa's thoughts on Chatham and D3 athletics:

Why D3:

I chose D3 because it allowed me to compete in my main sport, pick up a new one, and it still supported me in pursuing other passions at the same time. While I did have other offers for higher divisions, D3 is set on making sure you know you're a student before you're an athlete, which I think can sometimes get lost at bigger institutions. This was super important to me as academics is a top priority of mine and I wanted the school I go to also embody that.

What do you enjoy most about D3 athletics:

I enjoy D3 because no one is forcing you to show up, you aren't getting paid to play your sport, you are there because of your love for the game. The best part is that you are surrounded by people with that same mindset. If someone doesn't want to be there, they can walk out anytime, but your teammates choose to show up for themselves and for their teammates every day. On the academic side, I love that you can get one-on-one help from a teacher and can make a name for yourself in the program instead of just being a number.